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LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

Theological    Seminary 

PRINCETON,    N.  J. 

Case, ^.Cr..Cr Division 

Slielf.    Z<jOCk^         Sfction \ 

Book, N?, 


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1 


V 


^•HISTORY      ' 


Of    Tti  E   WORK    o  f 


REDEMPTION, 


CONTAINING 

The  Outlines  of  a  Body  of  Divinity 
In  a  Method  entirely  new. 


By    the  late  Reverend 

Mr.  JONATHAN^EDWARDS. 

Prefident  of  the  College  of  New-Jerfey. 


N  E  W  -  Y  O  R  K: 

r. 

Printed  by   Shepard  Kollock,  for  Robert 

Hodge,  No.  38,  Maiden-Lam* 

M,DCC,LXXXVI. 


PREFACE. 

IT  has  long  been  defired  by  the  friends 
of  Mr.  Edwards,  that  a  number  of  his 
manufcripts  fhould  be  publiflied  ;  but  the 
difadvantage  under  which  all  pofthu- 
mous  publications  mud  neceffarily  ap- 
pear, and  the  difficulty  of  getting  any 
confiderable  work  printed  in  this  infant 
country  hitherto,  have  proved  fufficient 
obftacles  to  the  execution  of  fuch  a  pro- 
pofal.  The  firft  of  thefe  obftacles  made 
ine  doubt,  for  a  confiderable  time  after 
thefe  manufcripts  came  into  my  hands, 
whether  I  could,  confiftently  with  that 
regard  which  I  owe  to  the  honour  of  fa 
worthy  a  parent,  fuffer  any  of  them  to 
appear  in  the  world.  However,  being 
diffident  of  my  own  fentiments,  and 
doubtful  whether  I  were  not  over  jea- 
lous  in  this  matter,  I  determined  to  fub- 
mit  to  the  opinion  of  gentlemen,  who 
are  friends  both  to  the  charafter  of  Mr. 

Edwards  and  to  the  caufe  of  truth. ^^. 

The  confequence  v/as,   that   they  gave 
their  advice  for  publifhing  them. 

The  other  obilacle  was  removed  by 
a  gentleman  in  the  church  of  Scotland^ 
who  was  formerly  a  correfpondent  of  Mr. 
Edwards.  He  engaged  a  bookfeller  to 
undertake  the  work,  and  aifo  fignified 
his  defire  that  thefe  following  difcourfcs.. 
in  particular  might  be  made  public. 


IV        PREFACE, 

Mr.  Edwards  had  planned  a  body  oi 
divinity,  in  a  new  method,  and  in  the 
form  of  a  hiftory ;  in  which  he  was  firft 
to  fliow,  how  the  moft  remarkable  events, 
in  all  ages  from  the  fall  to  the  prefent 
times,  recorded  in  facred  and  profane 
hiftory,  were  adapted  to  promote  the 
work  of  redemption  ;  and  then  to  trace, 
by  the  light  of  fcripture-prophecy,  how 
the  fame  work  fliould  be  yet  further  car- 
ried on  even  to  the  end  of  the  world.—- 
His  heart  was  fo  much  fet  on  executing 
this  plan,  that  he  was  confiderably  averfe 
to  accept  the  prefidentfhip  of  Princeton 
college,  left  the  duties  of  that  office  ftiould 
put  it  out  of  his  power. 

The  outlines  of  that  work  are  now  of- 
fered to  the  public,  as  contained  in  a  fe- 
ries  of  fermons,  preached  at  Northamp- 
ton in  1739*,  without  any  view  to  pub- 
lication. On  that  account,  the  reader 
cannot  reafonably  expeft  all  that  from 
them,  which  he  might  juftly  have  ex- 
pefted,  had  they  been  wTitten  with  fuch 
a  view,  and  prepared  by  the  author's  own 
hand  for  the  prefs. 

As  to  elegance  of  compofition,  which 
is  now  cfteemed  fo  eft'ential  to  all  publi- 
cations, it  is  well  known,  that  the  author 

did 

*  This  is  nccefTary  to  be  remembered  by  the  reader, 
in  order  lo  uiiderliand  feme  chronological  obl'ervatiuns 
in  the  following  work. 


PREFACE.  V 

did  not  make  that  his  chief  ftudy.    How- 
ever, his  other  writings,  though  dcttitute 
of  the  ornaments  of  fine  language,  have 
it  feems  that  foUd  merit,  which  has  pro- 
cured both  to  themfelves  and  to  him  a 
confiderable  reputation  in  the  world,  and 
with  many  an  high  efteem.     It  is  hoped 
that  the  reader  will  find  in  thefe  difcour- 
fes  many  traces  of  plain  good  fenfe,  found 
reafoning,  and  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
facred  oracles,  and  real  unfeigned  piety; 
and  that,  as  the  plan  is  new,  and  many 
of  the  fentiments  uncommon,  they  may 
afford  entertainment  and  improvement 
to  the  ingenious,  the  inquifitive,  and  the 
pious  reader,;  may  confirm  their  faith  in 
God's  government  of  the  world,   in  our 
holy  Chrifl:ian  religion  in  general,  and 
in  many  of  its  peculiar  docirines  ;  may 
affift  in  ftudying  with  greater  pleafure 
and  advantage  the  hiftorical  and  prophet- 
ical  books  of  fcripture  ;    and  may  excite 
to  a  converfation  becoming  the  gofpel. 

That  this  volume  may  produce  thefe 
happy  effefts  in  all  who  fliall  perufe  it, 
is  the  hearty  defire  and  prayer  of 

The  reader's  moR  humble  fervant, 

JONATHAN  EDWARDS. 

Nevu-Haven,  Feb.  25,  1773. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

THOSE  who  have  a  relifh  for  the 
ftudy  of  the  fcriptures,  and  have 
accefs  to  perufe  the  following  flieets, 
will,  I  am  perfuaded,  deem  themfelves 
much  indebted  to  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Edwards  of  New-Haven  for  confenting 
to  publifh  them.  Though  the  acute 
philofopher  and  deep  divine  appears  in 
them,  yet  they  are  in  the  general  better 
calculated  for  the  inftruSion  and  im- 
provement of  ordinary  Chriftians,  than 
thofe  of  Prefident  Edwards's  writings, 
where  the  abftrufe  nature  of  the  fubjeo:, 
or  the  fubtle  objections  of  oppofers  of 
the  truth,  led  him  to  more  abflraci  and 
metaphyfical  reafonings.  The  manu- 
fcript  being  intrufted  to  my  care,  I  have 
not  prefumed  to  make  any  change  in 
the  lentiments  or  compofition.  I  have, 
however,  taken  the  liberty  to  reduce  it 
from  the  form  of  fermons,  which  it  ori- 
ginally  bore,  to  that  of  a  continued  trea- 
tife  ;  and  I  have  fo  altered  and  diverfifi- 
ed  the  marks  of  the  feveral  divifions  and 
fubdivifions,  that  each  clafs  of  head^ 
might  be  eafily  diltinguifhed. 

JOHN  ERSKINE, 

Edinburgh,  April  2g,  ij J ^y 


CONTENTS. 

Page. 
Qtneral  introduBlon^  ^  Z  2^ 

PERIOD       I. 

From  the  foil  to  the  incarnation  ofChriJlt         -         40 

PART        I. 
Wrnw- f-h.p   fall  to  the  Jlood^  -  -  r-  41 

PART         II. 
'Frnm  the  Jlood  to  the  calling  of  Abraham^         ^       6.t 

PART        IIL 
From  the  calling  of  Abraham  to  Mofes,  ^-     ya 

PART       IV. 
From  Mofes  to  David^  ~  ^         ^       85 

PART        V, 
From.  Barnd  to  the  Babylonifli   captivity,         7^        H2 

PART        VI. 
frQmtkc  Baby  lonifh  captivity  tothcomingofChnf,  146 

I  M- 


viii  CONTENTS. 

IMPROVEMENT. 


Page. 

Infpiration,  excellency,  and  ufijidnefs  of  the  books 
of  the  Old  Tejlamtnt,  Be.  -  -  182 


PERIOD         XL 

The  time  of  Chrfl's  humiliation,  ^  -      194 

PART        I. 

Of  Chrifl's  becoming  incarnate  to  capacitate  himfclf 
for  the  pur  chafe,  of  redenipf  inn  ^  -  "      -^95 

PART        IL 

Of  the  pur  chafe  itfelf  -  -  -  203 

SECT,        I. 

What  is  intended  by  Chrif's  purchafing  redemption^  204 

SECT.         II. 

General  ob/ervations  concerning  tkofe  things   by 
which  this  piirchafc  was  made,  -         «       205 

SECT.        III. 

The  obedience  and  fufferings  by  which  Chrift  pur- 
chafed  redemption  particularly  conjidcrcd^     -       20^ 

1  M^ 


CONTENTS.      ix 

IMPROVEMENT. 

SECT.        L 

Page. 
Reproof  of  unbelief,  ftlj-righteoufnefs^  and  care- 
Ufs  negled  of  Jalvatioriy         -  -         -       230 

SECT.        II, 

Encouragement  to  burdened  fouls  to  triijl  in  Ckrift 
Jor  falvation^  -         >-  •         -         24a 

PERIOD        III. 

From  Ckrifi's  reJurreBion  to  the  end  of  tht  world,     24a 

INTRODUCTION. 

General  objervations  concerning  this  period^  2  4^ 

PART        I. 

Of  thofe  things  whereby  Chrifl  was  put  into  an  im- 
mediate capacity  for  accomplijhing  the  ends  of 
his  pur  chafe,  -  -  -  254 

P    A    R    T        IL 

How  Chriji  accomplijhed  this  fuccefs,  ^  538 

SECT.         I. 

How  thisfuccefs  is  accomplifJied  by  God's  grace  here,  2,5  S 

^  I.  The  means  of  this  fuccefs  ejiablifhcd  after 
Chrifl's  rfurrSxon,  #.         -  -       259 


C    0    N    T    E     N     T    S. 


§11.  The  fuccefs  itfelf,  -         -         -        265 

JiRST,  //?  the  fuffcringjldte  of  the  Churchy  from 
Hhe  refarreciion    of  Chri/l  to  the  fall  of  Anti-  • 
chrif},  -         -      '.  -         -  266 

I.  From  Chrifi's  reJhreBion  till  the  dflruElion  of 
jcrufdem^  -       '       -  -  268 

II.  From  the  de/lruMion  of  Jerufalem  to  ths  de^ 
firudiGH  of  the  Heathen  empire  in  the.  tune  of 

Conflantine  the  Greats  -  -  279 

Inference,  7>«M  of  Ckrifliamty  argued  from 
the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  in  both  thefe  periods,      289 

HI.  Succefs  of  redempttoTi-  frum  the  time  cf  Con- 
flantine the  Great  till  the  fall  of  Antichnfl^  293 
1//,  From  Confantine  till  the  rile  of  Antichnji,       294 
zdly,  From  the  rife  of  Antichrift  iill'ihe  reformation^  298 
2fdl)\  From  the  Reformation  till  the  prefent  tvne^     307* 

1.  0 f  the  Ref or maiion  itfelf ,  -  -  307 

2.  (f  the  opbofition  which  the  Devil  has  7nade  to 
the  interejts  of  religion  in  the  churches  of  the 
R.efarmation,  -  -  >     3i» 

3.  What  fuccefs  the  g  of  pel  has  lately  had  in  thefe 
cJf,urches,  -  -  -  -         317 

4.  Prefent  flate  of  things  with  regard  to  the  Juc- 
lefs  of  the  gofpcL         -  -  -  322 


APPLICATION. 

1.  Truth  of  Chriflianity  argued  from  me  events  of 
.   this  period,  .  -  -  -  326 

St-  The  fpirit  of  true  Chrflians  afpirit  offuffering,  338 
3.  JPliat  reafon  ice  have  to  ex  peel  that  events  fore- 
told in  fcripture^  not  yet  fulfilled,  fall  be  ac- 
complified^  -  :         -  -  339 

^ihly^  How 


CONTENTS.  Ki 


Pjge. 
4/A/y,  Hozv  the  facctfs  of  redfmpt.ionjkall  he  car- 
ried on  from  the  pr'ejcnt  time  till  Aniichnji  is 
fallen,  -  -         -.  -  339 

Secondly,  Succefs  of  redemption  through  that 
[pace  wherein  the  Chnfiian  church  fhall  for  the 
mofl  part  enjoy  prof perit)\  -  -  358 

/.  Profperity  of  the  church  through  the  greater  part 
of  this  period,  -  -  -         -         35^ 

II .  The  great  apoflacy  that  fhall  take  place  and  the. 
danger  that  fhall  threaten  the  church  towards 
the  end  of  this  period^  ^  -  36^ 

SECT.        II. 

liow  the  fuccefs  of  redemption  f tall  he  accompl fil- 
ed in  glory,  -  -  -  369 
General  remarks  on  this  fuccef,           -.              -     ■  369 
The  particular  manner  in  which  this  fuccefs  is  ac- 
compli filed,                -                  -              -  3-0 

MPROVEMENT    of    the   WHOLE. 

I.  liow  great  a  work  the  work  of  redemption  is,      385 

II.  God  the  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and 
ending  of  all  things,  -  -  38S 

III.  Chrijt  in  all  things  has  the  pre-eminence,  391 

IV.  Tlie  conjifiency,  order,  and  beauty  of  providence,  392 

V.  The  friptures   the  loord  of  God,  -  393 

VI.  The  mayfly  and  power  of  God  in  the  work  of 
redemption,  -  -  -  -  396 

VII.  The  glorious  wiflom  of  God  in  the  work  of 
redemption,  -  -  -  397 

VIII.  The  flahility  of  GocVs  mercy  and  faithful- 
nefs  to  his  people,  -  -  -  398 

IX.  How  happy  a  focitty  the  church  of  Chnf  is,    399 

X.  The  mftry  of  thofe  that  art  not  inter cjicd  in 
Chnf,         -  -         -  .         -  ^00 

bs  SUJ. 


SUBSCRIBERS  NAMES, 


REVEREND  Burgefs  Allifon,  principal  of  an 
academy  at  Bordentown, 
Mr.  Ifaac  Arnett,  Elizabeth-Town,  13  books, 
Shelly  Arnett,  Printer,  Nevv-Brunfwick, 
Thomas  Allen,  bookfeller,  New-York,  7  books, 
William  Allen,  gunfmith,  do. 
Henry  Allen,  do.  do. 
Abijah  Abbot,  merchant-taylor,  do* 
Jacob  Abramfe,  merchant,  do* 
John  Ailing,  Newark, 
Pruden  Ailing,  do. 
Ifaac  Ailing,  do. 
Nathaniel  Andrew  do. 
Jacobus  Anderfon,  Harrington, 
Reuben  Ayre,  Stamford, 
Jonas  S-  Addoms,  Orange  rounty, 
Martin  Armftrong,  do. 
Jofeph  Allifon,  fen.  do. 
Jofeph  Allifon,  jun.  do. 
James  Anfon,  fchoolmaller,  Haverliraw, 
Peter  Allifon,  do. 
Jofeph  Ambler,  Canaan. 

B. 

Mr.  John  Baffett,  ftudent  of  divinity.  New- York, 
Charles  Buxton,  ftudent  of  phyfic,  do. 
Calvin  Bateman,  fchoolmafter,  do. 
John  Bennie,  teacher  of  the  mathematics,  do. 
John  Betts,  diftiller,  do, 
Thomas  Barrow,  do. 
Daniel  Borden,  New-Windfor, 
Henry  Berry,  New-York, 
David  Brittot,  Old-Milford, 
Jacob  Blanck,  New-York,  , 

John  Bircham,  6  books, 
John  Banks,  New-York, 
David  Bellnap, 
John  BinghaiB,  New -York, 
Peter  Cole,  tanii^  do. 


SUBSCRIBERS   NAMnS.       xlv 

B. 

Jofiah  Brown,  baker,  Sagg-Harbour, 
William  Beach,  houfe-carpenter,.New-York, 
John  Bay,  Claverack, 
William  Brown,  New-York, 
Capt.  Daniel  Borden,  New-Windfor, 
Peletiah  Borden,  do. 
Hermanns  Bennet,  Long-Ifland, 
Ifaac  Beers,  bookfeller,  New-Haven,  28  bookf^ 
Stephen  Baldwin,  Newark, 
Jabez  Baldwin,  do. 
Stephen  Baflett  Simmons,  do* 
Jeremiah  Baldwin,  do. 
Mofes  Baldwin,  do. 
Nathaniel  Beach,  do. 
Zadock  Baldwin,  do. 
Jofeph  Baldwin,  do. 
Jeremiah  Bruen,  do, 
Jofeph  Banks,  do. 
Elifha  Boudinot,  do. 
Caleb  Bruen,  do. 
John  Burnet,  do. 
Jeffe  Brufh,  Stamford, 
Edward  Bartholomew,  Efq.  Pniladelphi*; 
Robert  Bell,  Orange  county, 
Matthew  Benfon,  do. 
David  Baldwin,  jun.  Wardfeflbn, 
Zophar  Baldwin,  do. 
Ichabod  Baldwin,  do. 
Jeffe  Baldwin,  do. 
Silas  Baldwin,  do. 
Simeon  Baldwin,  do. 
Jonathan  Baldwin,  do. 
Jofeph  BaMwin,  do. 
Ezckiah  Baldwin,  do. 
Aaron  Bal(iwin,  do. 
Bethuel  Benfon,  do. 
Daniel  Bouton,  Canaan, 
Noah  Benedi6>,  do. 
Nathaniel  Bouton,  do. 
Abraham  Ber.^^en,  Second-River, 
Doftor  Abraham  Beckman,  New- York, 
James  Bowen,  cabinet-maker,    do. 
Mauhias  Baker,  N^w-Jerfey,  1 3  bookj, 


%y        SUBSCRIBERS    NAMES, 

C. 

Mrs.  Cornelius  Cadmus,  Second-River, 
Mrs.  Mary  Crane,  Wardfeflbn, 
Doftor  James  Cogfwell,  New-York, 
Mr.  Jofeph  Cutler,  merchant,  New-York, 

Francis  Childs,  printer,  do.  14  books, 

Samuel  Campbell,  bookfeller,  7  booksj 

Jofeph  Cree,  printer, 

James  Chriftie,  merchant,  do. 

David  Currie,  merchant,  do. 

Nathaniel  Clock,  merchant,  Stamford, 
'    Nathaniel  Cary  Clark,  Old-Milford, 

James  Caldwell,  Albany, 

John  Carpenter,  Gofhen, 

James  Cheftney,  Albany, 

Francis  Covenhoven,  Tarry -Town, 

Jefhua  Cleeves,  New-Windfor, 

John  Croes,  Newark, 

David  D.  Crane,  do. 

Abief  Camfield,  do. 

James  Crane,  do. 

Jofeph  Camp,  do.  . 

Benjamin  Coe,  jun.  do. 

Samuel  Curry,  do. 

Daniel  Coleman,  do. 

Mofes  Newel  Combs,  do, 

Jofeph  Clark,  jun.  Stamford, 

Cornelius  Clark,  do. 

Jonas  Coe,  Orange  county, 

John  Coe,  do. 

Samuel  Coe,  do. 

John  D.  Coe,  do.  2  books, 

Arthur  Connelly,  do. 
•  Daniel  Coe,  jun.  do. 

William  Coe,  do. 

Benjamin  Coe,  Efq.  do. 

William  Coe,  do. 

William  Cooley,  do, 

Peter  Crouten,  do. 

Azarial  Crane,  Wardfeflbn,* 

Nathaniel  Crane,  do. 

Aaron  Crane,  do. 

John  Collins,  do. 

Deacon  Samuel  Cranc^  Horfeaec^a 


SUBSCRIBERS   NAMES.       xvi 

C. 

Jonas  Crane,  do. 
John  Crane,  do. 
John  Carle,  Efq;  New-Jerfey. 

D. 

Mr.  Thomas  Dobfon,  bookfeller,  Philadel.  50  books. 
James  Dunlap,  merchant,  New- York, 
William  Davidfon,  do. 
Cornelius  Davis,  do. 
Jofeph  Dunn,  do. 
Cary  Dunn,  goldfmith,  do. 
Charles  Duryee,  merchant,  do. 
Richard  Davis,  do. 
Nathan  Donglafs,  fchoolmafter,  do» 
Matthias  Day,  Printer,  • 

John  Decker,  Ulfter  county, 
Petrus  De  Witts,  Haerlem. 
Aaron  Day,  Newark,  • 

Ifaac  Davis,  do. 

John  Davenport,  fen.  Stamford, 
Jofeph  Dod,  jun.  Wardfeffon, 
Ebenezer  Dod,  do. 
Mofes  Dod,  do. 
John  Davis,  do. 
Jofeph  Davis,  do. 
Thomas  Dod,  do. 
Amos  Dod,  do. 
Jeffe  Dod,  do. 
Ifaac  Dod,  do. 
Samuel  Dod,  do. 
Daniel  Dod,  do. 

Eleazcr  Dod,  do.  • 

John  Demarcft,  Hackenfack, 
John  Dow,  jun.  Second-River, 
Thomas  Devenant,  do. 
Timothy  Devenant,  do. 
Mattliias  Dcnman,  Springfield,  N.  Jerfcy, 
Daniel  Drake,  N.  Jerfey, 
Paul  Day,  Chatham,  N.  Jerfey; 
Doctor  Piiilip  Dcy^  Packanoiik,  N.  Jcrfej^ 


SUBSCRIBERS    NAMES.        xvii 

E. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ellis,  South-Carolina,  ^ 

Mr.  Benjamin  Egbert,  merchant,  New-Yoik, 

John  Elliot,  do. 

John  Ellifon,  Flatbufh-, 

GofTumus  Erkeliurs,  N.  York,  2  books, 

Jofeph  Englc,  Philadelphia, 

Vine  Elderkin,  Orange  county. 

F. 

jVIrs.  Mary  Ferril,  New-Jerfey, 

Hev.  Thomas  Fleefon,  London-Traft,  Pennfylvania^ 

Mr.  David  C.  Franks,  New -York, 

Matthew  Ford,  gunfmith,  do. 

John  Fox, 

Peter  Fleming, 

Enos  Farrand,  WardfcfTon, 

Stephen  Fordham,  do. 

Samuel  Farrand,  do. 

Jonathan  Freeman,  Woodbridgc. 

G. 

Mr  Hugh  Gaine,  bookfeller,  New-York,  7  books, 
John  Gray,  carpenter,  do. 
Peter  Garbrance,  jun.  do. 
David  Gelfton,  merchant,  do. 
Robert  Graham,  writing-mafter,  do. 
William  Goforth,  jun.  do. 
John  S.  Gano,  do. 

*  [ohn  Goodwin,  druggift,  New- York, 
William  Gillefpie,  New-Windlo: , 
Henry  Gragg,  do. 
David  Grumman,  Newark, 
Elifha  Gordon,  Philadelphia, 
Hugh  Gorley,  do. 
Robert  Gordon,  Orange  count), 
John  Gould,  FIorfe-Ncck, 
Jofeph  Gould,  do. 
William  Gould,  do. 
Jofeph  Gould,  do. 
Daniel  Graham, 

Richardfon  Gray,  cabinet-maker,  EH^:.  Town, 
Matthew  Green,  Printer. 
Ephraim  Grant,  Conncfticut, 
Rol'ert  Gould,  Horfencck, 
c 


sviii        SUBSCRIBERS   NAMES, 

H. 

Mrs.  Eleanor  Hockley,  Philadelphia, 
Mrs.  Jane  Haviland,  Elizabeth-Town, 

Stephen  Hayes,  Newark, 

David  Hayes,  Newark. 
Mr.  John  Hendricks,  do. 

Hndfon  8c  Goodwin,  printers,  Hartford,  14  books, 

Luther  Halfey,  Elizabeth-Town,  13  books, 

Benjamin  Henfhaw,  Middletown,  6  books, 

William  Harper,  Fort-Hunter,  3  books, 

John  T.  Hannion,  New-Jerfey, 

Elijah  Hunter,  merchant,  13  books, 

Hercules  Heren, 

Thomas  Hazard,  tanner.  New- York, 

Chriflian  Hurtin,  Gofhen, 

Richard  T.  Hazard,  tanner  and  currier,  N.  Yorli, 

Luther  Harris,  A.  B.  Newtown, 

Philip  Howell,  New-Windfor, 

Olive  Howe,  carpenter,  do. 

Walter  HeVer,  New^-York, 

William  Haliiday,  do. 

i<.eubcn  Hopkins,  attorney  at  law,  Goflien., 

David  Hayes,  jun.  Newark, 

Robert  Hayes,  do. 

Elijah  HedJen,  do. 

Jonas  Hail,  Stamford, 

Abraham  Holly,  do. 

Julius  Harris,  do. 

JeiTe  lioit, 

Richard  Hall,  Philadelphia, 

John  Hopper,  do. 

John  Halfted,  Orange  countVy 

Jofeph  Hunt,  do. 

Robert  Henry,  Ilaverfiraw, 

Nathaniel  \V.  Howell,  Gorlien, 

Lewis  Hafhrouk,  Eufopus, 

Jacob  R.  Hardenbergh,  jun.  New-Brunfwick, 

James  Hornblower,  Second-River, 

David  Hedges,  Efq.  Long-IOand, 

Mr.  Thomas  Helme,  Crookhaven, 

Theodorus  Hamilton,  fchoolmaller,  Eliz.  Town. 

L 

Rev.  Wilhrm-i  Jackfon,  A.  L.  M.  paflor  of  the  Dutch 
rclornicd  churches  of  Staten-llland  and  Bergen^ 


^SUBSCRIBERS    NAMES.        xU 

Rev.  John  Jollne,  Morris  county, 
Mr.  Robert  JohnTon,  merchant,  New- York, 
Rev.  Jofhua  Jones,  New-Britain,  Pennfylvaniaj 
Tcunis  Joralemon. 
Thomas  Ivers,  New-York, 
Wilham  Jacobs,  fchoohnafter,  do. 
John  Jolmfon,  Brooklyne, 
Wilham  Johnfon,  Newark, 
Timothy  Johnfon,  do. 
John  Johnfon,  do. 
Daniel  Johnfon,  do. 
George  Ingols,  Philadelphia, 
John  Jones,  Orange  county, 
Abraham  Joralemon,  Wardfeflbn, 
K. 
Rev.  John  C.  Kunze,  D.  D.  Lutheran  MinlHer,  and 

profelTor  of  the  Oriental  languages,  N.  York. 
Rev.  Samuel  Kennedy,  Bafl-:enridge, 
Rev,  Abraham  Kettletas,  Jamaica,  Long-Ifland, 
Mr.  Shepard  Kollock,  printer,  14  books, 
Dr.  Samuel  Kennedy,  Suffex  county,  12  books, 
John  H.  Kip,  merchant,  New-York, 
Henry  Kennedy,  flioemaker,  do. 
.  John  Keyfer,  mafon,  do. 
Peter  Kinnan,  do. 
Peter  Kirby,  bookbinder,  do, 
Capt.  Henry  Kermet,  do. 
Renier  Knox,  d(5. 
Aury  King,  WardfefTbn, 
John  H.  King,  Second-River, 
Aaron  John  King,  do. 
Ephraim  Kibbey,  New-Jerfey. 
L. 
Rev.  J.  H.  Livlngfton,  S.  T.  P.  New- York, 
Rev.  ifaac  Lewis,  pallor  of  the  Prefbyterian  church, 

Wilton, 
Rev.  John  Lindfley,  New-Hampfled, 
Mr.  Samuel  Loudon,  printer,  New- York,  14  books, 
Robert  L?^ncafhire,  printer,  do. 
Cornelius  Ludlow,  Morris  county,. 
Andrew  Law,  New-York,  2  books, 
Ebenczer  Lockwocd,  Efq.  one  of  Judges  of  the 

inferior  court  of  common  plcas^ 
Peter  Lay  ton,  Morris  county, 
Aaron  Lajie  Elizabeth-Town* 
C  2 


.-.X        SUBSCRIBERS   NAMES. 

Jofeph  Lockwood,  Stamford, 

Ifciae  Labogh,  jun.  Hackenfack, 

John  Lockwood,  merchant,  New-York^ 

John  Lowth,  vvhitefmith,  do. 

Gabriel  Legget,  chair-maker,  dp* 

.^neas  Lament,  do. 

Brandt  Schuyler  Lupton,  ftudentof  divinity,  da* 

Nathaniel  Little,  Effex  county,  New-Jerfey, 

Mofes  Lyon,  houfe-carpenter,  do. 
M. 
Mrs.  Jane  M'Kinley,  New-York, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Mortimer, 
Rev.  John  Maibn,  New-York, 
Rev.  Alexander  M'Whorter,  D.  D.  Newark, 
Rev.  Juihis  Mitchell,  paftor  of  the  Prefbyterian  church, 

Canaan, 
Mr.  John  Mycall,  printer,  Newbury-Port,  14  books, 

Mr. M'Gill,  bookfeller,  N.  York,  7  books, 

John  Mennye,  teacher  of  the  mathematics,  do. 

Samuel  Miles,  Efq.  Philadelphia, 

Thomas  Memmenger,  Efq.  do. 

Jofeph  Meeke, 

Andrew  M'C ready, 

Walter  M'Alpine,  bookbinder,  New- York, 

James  M'Gennis,  WardfefTon, 

Anthony  Marvine,  Gollien. 
N. 
Ivlr.  Lewis  Nicholls,  New- York, 

Robert  Nicholls,  Newark, 

John  Koyes,  Canaan, 

Daniel  Niel,  New-Jerfey,  2  books. 
O. 
Mr.  Wilmot  Oakley,  Huntington,  Long-Ifland, 

Hugh  Oir,  merchant,  Albany, 

Ichabod  Ofborn,  Newark, 

Jofeph  Owen,  Stamford, 

Abraham  Orderdonck,  Orange  county, 

Jolin  Ogdcn,  jun.  WardfeiTon. 
P. 
Mr.   Nathaniel  Patten,  bookfeller,  Hartford,  14  books, 

Daniel  Phcenix,  merchant,  New- York, 

Cluillian  Palmer,  do. 

Jolcj)h  Par  fori  s,  do. 

Jnhn  P.  Pearle,  do. 

Abraham  PcrfeiJ,  Orange  county, 


3  U  B  S  €  R  I  3  E  R  S    NAMES.       xxi 

Richard  Patterfon,  fchoolmafter,  Claverack, 

Nathaniel  Potter,  Huntington^  Long-Iflar^d, 

Jabez  Pierfon,  Newark, 

Thomas  Prentice,  do. 

John  Peck,  Efq.  do. 

Peter  Perrell,  Orange  county, 

Jacob  Per  fell,  do. 

George  Perfonett,  Efq.  Horfeneck,^ 

Samuel  Philips^  Smith-Town. 

R. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rodgers,  Philadelphia, 
Rev.  William  Rodgers,  A.  M.  Philadelphia, 
Honourable  David  Ramfay,  Efq.  South-Carolina, 
Mr.  Alexander  Riddell,  merchant,  New-Yof  k, 

Peter  Riker,  Efq.  do. 

John  Rankin,  do. 

Henry  Roome,  do. 

Edward  Rigg,  teacher  of  the  languages,  djou 

Andrew  Rofs,  taylor,  do. 

John  Reid,  bookbinder,  do. 

Richard  Rohertfon, 

Gilbert  Roberts,  merchant,  New-Windfpr, 

Jeffe  Robords,  Newark, 

Orry  D.  Ronde,  Orange  county, 

Henry  D.  Ronde,  do. 

John  Ruthven,  New-York, 

Samuel  Reynolds,  Orange  CQunty, 

Simon  Riggs,  Wardfeffon, 

John  Range,  Nfwark, 

John  Ryers,  New-Jerfey. 

S. 
Mrs.  Joanna  Schultz;,  New-Windfor, 
Rev.  John  StandclifF,  Philadelphia, 
Rev.  Henry  Schoonmaker,  Second-Rivgr, 
Rev.  John  Shepherd,  Horfeneck, 
Captain  Leefon  Simmons,  do. 

Thomas  Shields,  Efq.  do. 
Mr.  Henry  Snaff,  Orrnge  county, 

Ifaac  Serjeant,  Wardfeffon, 

John  Smith,  do. 

Zephaniah  H.  Smith,  Canaan, 

Abraham  Speer,  Second-River, 

John  Speer,  jun.  do, 

-il      j  ;  ;J    •  d       O. 


xxii        SUBSCRIBERS   NAMES, 

Mr.  William  Smith,  New -York, 

Benjamin  Sciidder  the  third,  do, 
John  Sebring,  do.  • 
Archibald  Stenfon,  do. 
Peter  Sutton,  Morris  county, 
William  Strachan,  New-York. 
John  Shepherd,  merchant-taylor,  Ncw-Yorl^ 
Henry  Squier,  Orange, 
Benjamin  Scudder,  New-Jerfey, 
Ifaac  Serjeant, 

Richard  Snedecker,  Efq.  Poughkeepfie, 
Oerardus  Smith,  fail-maker,  New^-York, 
Peter  T.  Schenck,  Long-Ifland, 
Archibald  Stewart,  SulTex  county,  N.  J.  6  books, 
Caleb  Sutton,  merchant,  New-York, 
Joiliua  Sands,  merchant,  do. 
Plenry  Sheaff,  boat-builder,  do, 
Prederick  Shober,  grocer,  do, 
Jehofaphet  Star,  merchant,  do. 
John  Stagg,  jun.  do.  2  books, 
James  Stuart,  grocer,  do. 
^Bernard  Sprong,  Staten-Ifland, 
£Iiiah  Sneadon, 
ThomRs  Sloo, 

David  Smith,  Suffield,  Conne61icut, 
Daniel  Smith,  Salem, 
Daniel  Staribury,  currier,  New-York^ 
Simon  Simonfon,  do. 
Peter  Stryker,  fludent  of  divinity, 
Ifaac  Schultz,  merchant,  New-Wlndfor, 
Jofliua  Sears,  New-Windfor, 
John  Stryker,  New-York, 
William  Smith,  Efq.  St.  George's  Manor, 
Uzal  Sayres, 

Charles  Smith,  Morris  county,  New-Jerfey, 
Benjamin  Scofield,  Stamford, 
James  Seelv,  do. 
Mofes  St.  John,  do. 
Afahel  Scofield,  do. 

T. 

Mr.  John  Thompfon,  merchant,  New- York, 
John  Thomj)fon,  do 
Aaron  Thompfon,  New- Jcrfey, 
John  Taylor,  merchant,  New-York, 


SUBSCRIBERS    NAMES.      xxiil 

Thomas  Tredwell,  do. 
Piatt  Townlhcnd, 

John  Thoniplon,  New-Brunfwick, 
Thomas  Tucker,  Danbiuy, 
David  Tichiior,  Newark, 
JefTe  Ten  Brook,  do. 

Coonrod  Tinkee,  Orange  county, 

John  Tinkee,  do. 

Jonathan  Taylor,  New-Hempfted, 

James  Thomfon,  Wardfeffon, 

David  Taylor,  do. 

John  Tiittle, 

Nehemiah  Tunis,  Elizabeth  Town, 

Col.  John  Taylor,  New-Brunfwick»     • 

U. 
Rev.  Thomas  Uflick,  Philadelphia. 

V. 

John  Van  Dyke,  Efq.  New-York, 

Mr.  Beekman  Van  Beuren,  merchant,  do. 

Daniel  John  Van  'Antwerp,  grocer,  do. 

Michael  Varian,  do. 

Peter  Van  Duerfen,  do. 

Samuel  Van  Steenbergh,  do. 

John  Van  Kleeck,  Dutchefs  county, 

Jonathan  Vanirig,  Stamford, 

Garret  V.  D.  Voort,  Orange  county, 

Harmanus  Van  Huyfen,  Nevv^-Jerfey. 

W. 

Rev.  James  Wilfon,  New -York, 

Rev.  Nathan  WoodhuU,  Huntington,  Lojig-Illa!id, 

Thomas  Wooldridge,  Efq.  New -York, 

Mr.  John  Woodward,  merchant,  do. 

Alexander  P.  Waldron,  Brooklyne-Ferry,  do. 

Hugh  Walfli,  tallovz-chandler,  do, 

Profper  Wetmore,  do. 

John  Wood,  do. 

John  Watfon,  do. 

Ifracl  Wool,  do. 

James  Woodhull,  merchant,  do, 

Obadiah  Wells,  painter,  do. 


xxlv        SUBSCRIBERS    NAMES- 

Peter  Walfli,  Newtown-Landing, 

James  Williams,  fchoolmafler,  Bower>% 

Peter  Wendover, 

John  Wigton,  Philadelphia, 

Noah  Webfter,  jun,  Hartford,  2  books^ 

fames  Wallace,  Newport, 

Barruch  Wright,  New-Windfor, 

Jonas  Williams,  do. 

Abraham  Weftervelt,  Efq.  Berg^ii  couiitjr, 

Caleb  Wheeler,  Newark, 

John  Ward,  do. 

Ifrael  Weed,  Stamford, 

Benjamin  Weed,  3d  do* 

Ebenezer  Weed,  do. 

Seth  Weed,  do. 

John  Woolfey,  jun.  do. 

Jofeph  Wood,  do. 

Timothy  Ward,  WardfefTon, 

Ebenezer  Wood,  Orange  count)'', 

W'illiam  Willis,  do. 

Jacob  Waldron,  do. 

Jacob  Ward,  Wardfeffon, 

Peter  Wilfon, 

William  Weed,  Canaan^ 

Abraham  Weed,  do. 

Matthias  Ward,  Efq.  Newark^ 

Stephen  Wheeler,  Eli z abet h-Towi1* 

Darnel  Waldron. 

Y. 

Mr.  John  Young,  faddler,  New-York, 
John  Young,  grocer,  do. 

Z. 

Mr.  Albert  Zabrifkie,  Hackenfack, 

Chriflian  Zabrifkie,  Bergen  county, 
ChriCiiaa  A.  Zabrifkie,  do. 


,  ji=<:xxi-^:::<'s>'^x;<xx>;:::<>c<xxxx:=<x>o<xxx><xx ;  z 


HISTORY 

Of   the   work   of 

REDEMPTIGbl. 


Isaiah   li.  B» 


For  the  mothjhall  eat  them  up  like  a  garment,  and  the 
worm  Jliall  eat  them  like  wool:  but  my  righteoujhefs 
Jhall  be  for  ever^  and  my  J'alvationfrom  generation  to 
generation, 

TH  E  dcfign  of  this  chapter  is  to  comfort  the? 
church  under  her  fufFerings,  and  the  per- 
fecutions  of  her  enemies;  and  the  argu- 
ment of  confolation  infifted  on  is,  the  con- 
ftancy  and  perpetuity  of  God's  mercy  and  faithfulnefs 
toward  her,  which  fhall  be  manifeft  in  continuing  to 
work  falvation  for  her,  protefting  her  againft  all  af- 
faults  of  her  enemies,  and  cariying  her  fafely  through 
all  the  changes  of  the  world,  and  finally  crowning  her 
with  vi61ory  and  deliverance. 

In  the  text,  this  happinefs  of  the  church  of  God  is 
fet  forth,  by  comparing  it  with  the  contrary  fate  of 
her  enemies  that  opprefs  her.  And  therein  we  may 
bbferve, 

1.  How  fliort-lived  the  power  and  profperity  of  the 
church's  ertemies  is  :  The  moth  Jhall  eat  them  up  like  a 
garment^  and  the  worm  Jliall  eat  them  like  wool\  i.  e. 
however  great  their  profperity  is,  and  however  great 
their  prefent  glory,  they  fhall  by  degrees  confume  and 
vanifh  awav  by  a  fecret  curfe  of  God,  till  they  come  to 
-  '     '  A  nothings    - 


2^  A  HISTORY  or 

nothhr*;  and  all  their  power  and- glon',  and  fa  theh- 
jicifecutions,  eternally  ceafc,  and  they  be  finally  and 
Hrecoverably  ruined.  As  the  finefl:  and  moft  gloriousr 
a])parel  will  in  time  wear  away,  and  be  confumed  by 
moths  and  rottenncfs,  we  learn  who  thofe  are  that  fhalr 
thus  confume  away,  by  the  foregoing  verfe,  viz.  Thofc 
that  are  the  enemies  of  God's  people :  Hearken  unto 
me,  ye  that  know  righteoufnejs,  the  people  in  whoje  heart 
IS  my  law,  fear  ye  not  the  reproach  oj  ynen^  neither  he  ye- 
afraid  of  their  revilings. 

2.  The  contrary  happy  lot  and  portion  of  God's 
church,  exprefled  in  thefe  words,  My  righteoufnefs 
jhaH  be  for  ever,  and  my  falvaticn  from  generation  to 
generation.  Who  are  meant  as  thofe  that  fhall  have 
fhe  benefit  of  this,  we  alfo  learnby  the  preceding  verfe^ 
viz.  They  that  know  righteoufnefs^  and  the  people  in 
zvhofe  heart  is  God*s  law;  or,  in  one  word,  the  church 
of  God.  And  concerning  this  happinefs  of  theirs  here 
fpoken  of,  we  may  obferve  two  things,  viz.  i.  Where- 
in itconfifls;   2.  Its  continuance. 

fi)  Wherehi  it  coafift^,  viz.  In  God's  righteouf-- 
Tiefs  and  falvation  toward  them.  By  God's  righteouf- 
nefs here,  is  meant  his  faithfulnefs  in  fulfilling  his  co- 
venant-promifes  to  his  church,  or  his  faithfulnefs  to- 
\v-ards  his  church  and  people,  in  beflowing  the  benefits 
cf  the  covenant  of  grace  upon  them;  which  benefits,, 
though  they  are  bef^owed  of  free  and  fovereign  grace, 
as  being  altogether  undeferved ;  yet  as  God  has  been 
plcafed,  by  the  promifes  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  to 
bind  himfelf  to  befl;0\v  them,  fo  they  are  bef towed  in- 
the  excrcife  of  GorFs  righteoufnefs  or  juflice.  And 
therefore  the  apoftle  fays,  Heb.  vi.  10.  God  is  not 
-unrighteous,  to  forget  your  work  and  labour  of  love.  Arid: 
To,  1  Johni.  9.  If  we  conffs  our  fins,  he  is  faithful,  and 
juf  to  forgive  us  our  fins,  and  to  cleanfe  lis  from  allun- 
rightcoufnefs.  So  the  word  righteoufnefs  is  very  often 
nfed  in  fcripture  for  God's  covenant-faithfulricfs ;  {q 
it  is  ufed  in  Nehem.  ix.  8.  Thou  haft  performed  thy 
words,  for  thou  art  righteous.  So  we  are  often  to  un- 
<lcrila::d  righteoufnefs  and  covenant-mercy  for  the  fame 
thing;  as  Pfal.  xxiv.  ^.  He  fhall  receive  the  bkffing 
from  the  Lord,  afid  righteoufnefs  from  the  God  of  his 
fatvatibn, '  Pfal.  xxxvi.  10.  Continue  thy  loving  kindnef 

to- 


The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.        27 

to  them  that  know  thee^  mid  thy  righteoufnefs  to  the  up" 
rifht  m  heart.     And  Pfal.  li.   14.    Deliver  uit  Jram^ 
blood-guiltinejs^  0  God,  thou  God  of  my  falvation:  and 
my  tongue  Jliall  Jing  aloud  of  thy  righteoujhej's.     Daiu 
ix.  16.  0  Lord,  according  to  thy  righteoiijhefs,  I  befeeck 

thee,  let  thy  anger  and  thy  fury  be  turned  away, — 

And  fo  in  innumerable  other  places. 

The  other  word  here  ufed  is  Jalyation,  Of  thefe 
two,  God's  righteoufnefs  and  his  falvation,  the  one  is 
the  caufc,  of  which  the  other  is  the  effe^^.  God's 
righteoufnefs,  or  covenant-mercy,  is  the  root  of  which 
his  falvation  is  the  fruit.  Both  of  them  relate  to  the 
covenant  of  grace.  The  one  is  God's  covenant-mercy 
iind  faithfulnefs,  the  other  intends  that  work  of  God 
by  which  this  covenant-mercy  is  accomplilhed  in  the 
fruits  of  it.  For  falvation  is  the  fum  of  all  thofe 
works  of  God  by  which  the  benefits  that  are  by  the 
covenant  of  grace  are  procured  and  beflowed. 

(2)  We  may  obferv^e  its  continuance,  fignified  here 
6y  two  eKprcflions ;  for  ever,  2iV\Afro?n generation  to  ge- 
neration.    The   latter  feems  to  be  explanatory  of  the 
former.     The   phrafe  for  ever^  is   varioufly  ufed  \n 
fcripture.     Sometimes   thereby  is  meant   as  long  as  a 
man  lives.     So  it  is  faid,  the   fervant  tiiat  has   liis  ear 
bored  through  with  an  awl  to  the  door  of  his  maHer, 
fhould  be  his  for  ever.     Sometimes  thereby  is    meant 
during   the   continuance   of  the  Jewifli  ftate.     So  of 
many   of  the  ceremonial  and  Levitical  laws.it  is  faid, 
that   they   fhould  be  ftatutes  for  ever.     Sometimes  it 
means  as  long  as  the  world  fhall  Hand,  or  to    the    end 
of  the  generations  of  meji.    So  it  is  faid,  Ecclef.  i.  4. 
"  One  generation  paffeth  away,  and  another  comcth  ; 
'*  but  the  earth  abidethy^?;"  ever^''    Sometimes  thereby 
is  meant  to  all  eternity.     So  it  is  fgid,  "  God  isblclfcd 
*'  for   ever.''     Rom.  i.    25.     And  fo  it  is  faid,  John 
vi.  51.  "If  any  man  eat  of  this  bread,  he  f]:iall   live 
"  for  ever.'' — And  which  of  thefe  fenfcs  is  here  to  bo 
imderftood,  the  next  words  determine,  viz.  to  the  end 
of  the  world,  or  to  the  end  of  the  generations  of  men. 
It  is  faid  in  the  next  words,  "  and  my  falvation  from 
'*  generation  to  generation."   Indeed  the  fruits  of  God's 
falvation  Ihall  remain  after  the  end  of  the  world,  a* 
appears  by  the  6th  verfc :  '*  Lift  up  your  eyes  to  th^ 

*'  heavens, 


28  A  HISTORY  OF 

*'  heavens,  and  look  upon  the  earth  beneath ;  for  thai, 
**  heavens  fhall  vanifh  away  Hke  fmoke,  and  the  earth 
"  fhall  wax  old  like  a  garment,  and  they  that  dwell 
"  therein  fhall  die  in  like  manner,  but  iny  falvation 
^\Jhall  be  for  ever,  and  my  righteoiifnefs  Jhall  not  be  a- 
*'  bolijhed.'*  But  the  work  of  falvation  itfelf  toward 
the  church  fhall  continue  to  be  wrought  till  then :  till 
the  end  of  the  wprld  God  wall  go  on,  to  accomplifli 
deliverance  and  falvation  for  the  church,  from  all  her 
enemies ;  for  that  is  what  the  prophet  is  here  fpeaking 
of;  till  the  end  of  the  world ;  till  her  enemies  ceafe  to" 
be,  as  to  any  power  to  moleft  the  church.  And  this 
expreffion,  JO'^'^^  generation  to  generation,  may  deter- 
mine us  as  to  the  time  which  God  continues  to  carry 
on  the  work  of  falvatipn  for  his  church,  both  with  re- 
fpe6l  to  the  beginning  and  end.  It  is  from  generation 
to  generation,  u  e.  throughout  all  generations  ;  begin- 
ning w4th  the  generations  of  men  on  the  earth,  and 
^ot  ending  till  thefe  generations  end,  at  the  end  of  the 

world. And  therefore  we  deduce  from  thefe  words 

this 


DOCTRINE. 

The  work  of  redemption  is  a  work  that 
God  carries  on  from  the  fall  of  man 
to  the  end  of  the  world. 

The  generations  of  mankind  on  the  earth  did  not 
begin  till  after  the  fall.  The  beginning  of  thepofleri- 
ty  of  our  firfl  parents  was  after  the  fall ;  for  all  their 
poflerity,  by  ordinary  generation,  are  partakers  of  the 
fall,  and  of  the  corruption  of  nature  that  followe(i 
from  it;  and  thefe  generations,  by  which  the  human 
race  is  propagated,  fhall  continue  to  the  end  of  the 
world :  fo  thefe  two  ar€  the  limits  of  the  generations 
of  men  on  the  earth  ;  the  fall  of  man,  the  beginning; 
and  the  end  of  the  world,  or  the  day  of  judgment, 
the  end.  The  fame  are  the  limits  of  the  work  of  re- 
demption as  to  thofe  progreffive  works  of  God,  by 
which   that   redem|)tion   is  brought  about  and  accom^- 

plifhed, 


The   Work  of   REDEMPTION.        i>r> 

wlifhed,  though  not  as  to  the  fruits  of  it;  for  they,  as 
was  faid  before,  fliall  be  to  all  eternity. 

The  work  of  redemptipn  and  the  work  of  falvatioii 
are  the  fame  thing.  What  is  fome  times  in  fcripturc 
called  God's  faving  his  people,  is  in  other  places  called 
his  redeeming  them.  So  Chrift  is  called  both  the  Sa- 
viour and  Redeemer  of  his  people. 

Before  entering  on  the  propofed  hiflory  of  the 
Work  of  Redemption,  I  would, 

1.  Explain  the  terms  made  ufeof  in  the  doQrine; — 
and, 

2.  Show  what  thofe  things  are  that  are  defigned  to 
be  accompliflied  by  this  great  work  of  God. 

Firft,  I  would  fhow  in  what  fenfe  the  terms  of  the 

doftrine  are  ufed. And,    i.  I  would   fhow  how  I 

would  be  underftood  when  I  ufe  the  word  redemption ; 
— and,  2.  how  I  would  be  underftood  when  I  fay,* 
this  work  is  a  work  of  God  carried  on  from  the  fall  o£ 
man  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

I.  I  woiild  fhow  how  I  would  be  underflood  when  I 

ufe  the  word    redemption. And  here  it  may  ht 

obferved,  that  the  work  of  redemption  is  fometimes 
underftood  in  a  more  limited  fenfe,  for  the  purchafe 
of  falvation ;  for  fo  the  wprd  ftriftly  fignifies,  a  pur- 
chafe of  deliv^erance ;  and  if  we  take  the  word  in  this 
reftrained  fenfe,  the  work  of  redemption  was  not  fo 
long  in  doing.  But  it  was  begun  and  finiflied  with 
Chrift's  humiliation.  It  was  all  wrought  while  Chrift 
was  upon  earth.  It  was  begun  with  Chrift's  incarna- 
tion, and  carried  on  through  Chrift's  life,  and  finiflied 
with  his  death,  or  the  time  of  his  remaining  under  the 
power  of  death,  which  ended  in  his  refurreftion  :  and 
fo  we  fay,  that  the  day  of  Chrift's  refurreftion  is  the 
day  when  Chrift  finifhedthe  work  of  redemption,  i.  e. 
then  the  purchafe  was  finiflied,  and  the  work  itfelf, 
and  all  that  appertained  to  it,  wag  virtually  done  and 
finiflied,  but  not  aclually. 

But  then  fometimes  the  work  of  redemption  is  taken 
more  largely,  including  all  that  God  works  or  ac- 
complilhes,  tending  to  this  end;  not  only  the  purchafing 
of  redemption,  but  alfo  all  God's  works  that  were  pro- 
perly preparatory  to  the  purchafe,  or  as  applying  the 
'  purchafe 


jo  A  HISTORY  OF 

purchafe  and  accomplifhing  the  fuccefs  of  it :  fo  t!iat 
the  whole  difpenfation,  as  it  includes  the  preparatiogi 
^nd  the  purchafe  and  the  application  and  fuccefs  of 
Chrifl's  redemption,  is  here  called  the  work  of  rede?np' 
iion.  All  that  Chrift  does  in  this  great  affair  as  media- 
,tor,  in  any  of  his  offices,  either  of  prophet,  prieft  or 
king ;  either  when  he  was  in  this  world,  in  his  human 
;iature,  or  before  or  fmce ;  and  not  only  what  Chrift 
the  mediator  has  done,  but  alfo  what  the  Father  or  the 
Holy  Ghoft  have  done,  as  united  or  confederated  ii? 
this  defign  of  redeeming  finful  men ;  or,  in  one  word, 
all  that  is  wrought  in  execution  of  the  eternal  covenant 
of  redemption ;  this  is  what  I  jcall  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion in  thedoftrine;  for  it  is  all  but  one  work,  one  de- 
fign. The  various  difpenfations  or  w;orks  that  belong 
to  it,  are  but  the  feveral  parts  of  one  fcheme.  It  is  but 
one  defign  that  is  formed,  to  which  all  the  offices  of 
Chrift  do  direftly  tend,  and  in  which  all  the  perfons  of 
the  Trinity  do  confpire,  and  all  the  various  difpenfa-i 
tions  that  belong  to  it  are  united;  and  the  feveral 
wheels  are  one  machijiie,  to  anfwer  one  end,  and  pro* 
yiuce  one  efFe£}, 

II.  When  I  fay,  this  work  is  carried  on  from  the 
fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world ;  in.  order  to  the 
full  underftanding  of  my  meaning  in  it,  I  w^ould  defir© 
t\vo  or  three  things  to  be  obferved. 

1.  That  it  is  not  meant,  that  nothing  was  done  in  or- 
der fo  it  before  the  fall  of  man.  There  were  many 
things  done  in  order  to  this  work  of  redemption  before 
tliat.  Some  things  were,  done  before  the  world  was 
created^  yea  from  all  eternity.  The  perfons  of  the 
Trinity  were  as  it  were  confederated  in  a  defign  and  a 
covenant  of  redemption ;  in  which  covenant  the  Fa- 
ther had  appointed  the  Son,  and  the  Son  had  under- 
taken the  work ;  and  all  things  to  be  accompliflied  in 
the  work,  were  ftipulated  and  agreed.  And  befides 
i^at^e,  there  were  things  done  at  the  creation  of  the 
world,  in  order  to  that  work,  before  man  fell ;  for  the 
world  itfelf  fecms  to  have  been  created  in  order  to  it. 
The  work  of  creation  was  in  order  to  God's  works  of 
providence :  fo  that  if  it  be  enquired  which  of  thefe 
kinds  of  works  is  the  greateft,  the.  works  of  creation 
or  the  works  of  providence  ?  I  anfwsr,  the  works  of 

providence ; 


The  Work  of  REDEMPTION        31 

providence ;  becaufc  God's  works  of  providence  are 
the  end  of  his  \vorks  of  creation,  as  the  building  an 
houfe,  or  the  forming  an  engine  or  machine,  is  for  its 
ufe.  But  God's  main  work  of  providence  is  this  great 
%vork  of  God  that  the  doBrine  fpeaks  of,  as  may  mors 
fully  appear  hereafter. 

The  creation  of  Heaven  was  in  order  to  the  work  of 
redemption :  it  was  to  be  an  habitation  for  the  redeem- 
ed :  Matth.  xxv.  34.  *'  Then  fhall  tlie  King  fay  unto 
"  them  on  his  right,  Come,  ye  blefl'ed  of  my  Father, 
**  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  foun- 
"  dation  of  the  world."  Even  the  Angels  were  created 
to  be  employed  in  this  ^v'ork ;  and  therefore  the  Apoftle 
tails  them  "  minijlring  Jpirits,.  fent  forth  to  minifter 
*'  for  them  who  Ihall  be  heirs  of  falvation,"  Heb. 
i.  14.  As  to  this  lower  world,  it  was  doubtlefs  created 
to  be  a  ftage  upon  \vhieh  this  great  and  wonderful  work 
of  redemption  Ihould  be  tranfafted :  and  therefore,  as 
might  be  fhown,  in  many  refpefts,  this  lower  world  is- 
wifely  fitted,  in  the  formation,  for  fuch  a  ftate  of  man 
as  he  is  in  fince  the  fall,,  under  a  poffibility  of  redemp« 
tion ;  fo  that  when  it  is  faid  that  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the 
world,  it  is  not  meant  that  all  that  ever  was  done  in- 
t)rder  to  redemption  has  been  done  fince  the  fall.    Nor, 

2 .  Is  it  meant  that  there  will  be  no  remaining  fruits 
of  this  work  after  the  end  of  the  world  ?  the  greateft 
fruits  of  all  will'  be  after  that.  That  glory  and  bleffed- 
iiefs  that  will  be  the  fum  of  all  the  fruits,  will  remain 
to  all  the  faints  after  that.  The  work  of  redemption  \% 
not  an  eternal  work,  i.  e.  it  is  not  a  work  always  a  do- 
ing and  never  accoinpliflied.  But  the  fruits  of  this 
work  are  eternal-  fruits.  The  work  has  an  ifliie.  But 
in  the  iflue  the  end  will  be  obtained ;  which  end  will 
never  have  an  tn^.  As  thofe  things  that  were  in  or- 
der to  this  work  before  the  beginning  of  the  world,  a& 
God's  elefting  love,  and  the  covenant  of  redexptiony 
never  had  a  beginning,  fo  the  fruits  of  this  work,  that 
fhall  be  after  the  end  of  the  world,  never  will  have  anf" 
end.     And  therefore, 

3.  When  it  is  faid  in  the  doQrine,  that  this  is  a 
work  that  God  is  carrying  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to 
\\k  end  of  the  world,  \^\Ux  I  meau  is,  that  thofe  things 


^•^  A    HISTORY   o^ 

that  belong  to  this  work  itfelf,  aiid  are  parts  of  this 
icheme,  are  all  this  while  accomplifliing.  There  are 
things  that  are  in  order  to  it  that  are  before  the  begin- 
ning of  it,  and  fruits  of  it  that  are  after  it  is  finifhed. 
But  the  work  itfelf  is  fo  long  a-dbing,  even  from  the 
fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world  it  is  all  this  while 
a  carrying  on.  It  was  begun  immediately  upon  the  falf 
and  ^vdl  continue  to  the  end  of  the  world,  and  then 
will  be  finilhed;  The  various  difpenfations  of  God 
that  are  in  this  fp^ce,  do  belong  to  the  farrie  work,  and 
to  the  fame  defign,  and  have  all  one  ilfue ;  and  there- 
fore are  all  to  be  reckoned  but  as  feveral  parts  of  on«^ 
w^ork,  as  it  were  feveral  fiicceflive  motions  of  one  ma- 
chine, to  bring  about  in  the  conclufion;  one  great  event. 

And  here  alfo  we  muft  diftinguifh  between  the  parts 
of  redemption  itfelf,  and  the  parts  of  the  work  by 
which  that  redemption  is  wrought  out.  There  is  a  dif- 
ference between  the  parts  of  the  benefits  procured  and 
bellowed,  and  the  parts  of  the  work  of  God  by  which 
thofe  benefits  were  procured  and  bellowed.  As,  for« 
example,  there  is  a  difference  between  the  parts  of  the 
benefit  that  the  children  of  Ifrael  received,  confifting 
in  their  redemption  out  of  Egyptj  and  the  parts  of  that 
work  of  God  by  which  this  was  ^vrought.  The  re- 
demption of  the  children  of  Ifrael  out  of  Eg)^t,  con- 
iidered  as  the  benefit  which  they  enjoyed,  confifted  of 
two  parts,  viz.  their  deliverance  from  their  former 
Egvptian  bondage  and  mifeiy,  and  their  being  brought 
into  a  more  happy  Hate,  as  the  fervants  of  God,  and 
lieirs  of  Canaan.  But  there  are  many  more  things 
which  are  parts  of  that  work  of  God  which  is  called 
his  work  of  redemption  of  Ifrael  out  of  Eg)'pt.  T6 
this  belongs  his  calling  of  Mofes,  his  fending  him  to 
Pharaoh,  and  all  the  ligns  and  wonders  he  wrought  iri 
Eg\'pt,  and  his  bringing  fuch  terrible  judgments  on 
the  Egyptians,  and  many  other  things. 

It  is  this  work  by  which  God  effeHs  redemption  that 
\rc'  arc  fpeaking  of.  This  work  is  carried  on  from  the 
fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world ;  and  it  is  fo  in 
two  refpe6is : 

(i)  With  refpeft  to  the  effeft  wrought  on  the  fouls 
of  the  redeemed,  which  is  common  to  all  ages  from 
the  iLi!l  of  m:\:i  to  the  end  of  the  world.     This  cffe6t 

that 


The   Work   of   REDEMPTION.       33 

that  I  here  fpeak  of,  is  the  appliGation  of  redemption 
with  refpeft  to  the  fouls  of  particular  perfons,  in  con- 
verting, juftifying,  fanftifying  and  glorifying  of  them. 
By  thefe  things  the  fouls  of  particular  perfons  are  ac- 
tually redeemed,  and  do  receive  the  benefit  of  the  work 
of  redemption  in  its  effect  in  their  fouls.  And  in  this 
fenfe  the  work  of  redemption  is  carried  on  in  all  ages 
of  the  world,  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the 
world.  The  work  of  God  in  converting  fouls,  open- 
ing blind  eyes,  unftopping  deaf  ears,  railing  dead  fouls 
to  life,  and  rcfcuing  the  miferable  captivated  fouls  out 
of  the  hands  of  Satan,  was  begun  foon  after  the  fall 
of  man,  has  been  carried  on  in  the  world  ever  fmce 
to  this  day,  and  will  be  to  the  end  of  the  world.  God 
has  always,  ever  fince  the  firft  erefting  of  the  church 
of  the  redeemed  after  the  fall,  had  fuch  a  church  in  the 
world;  though  oftentimes  it  has  been  reduced  to  a 
very  narrow  compafs,  and  to  low  circumftances ;  yet 
it  has  never  wholly  failed. 

And  as  God  carries  on  the  work  of  converting  the 
fouls  of  fallen  men  through  all  thefe  ages,  i"o  he  goes 
on  to  juftify  them,  to  blot  out  all  their  fms,  and  to  ac- 
cept them  as  righteous  in  his  fight,  through  the  righ- 
teoufnefs  of  Chrill,  and  adopt  and  receive  them  from 
being  the  children  of  Satan,  to  be  his  own  children ; 
fo  alfo  he  goes  on  to  fan61;ify,  or  to  carry  on  the  work 
of  his  grace,  which  he  has  begun  in  them,  and  tp 
comfort  them  with  the  confolations  of  his  Spirit,  and 
to  glorify  them,  to  beftow  upon  them,  when  their  bo- 
dies die,  that  eternal  glory  which  is  the  fruit  of  the 
purchafe  of  Chrift.  What  is  faid,  Rom.  viii.  30. 
**  Whom  he  did  predeftinate,  them  he  alfo  called,  and 
"  whom  he  called,  them  he  alfo  jufiified,  and  whom 
**  he  juftified,  them  he  alfo  glorified :"  I  fay  this  is 
applicable  to  all  ages,  from  the  fall  to  the  end  of  the 
world. 

The  way  that  the  work  of  redemption,  with  refpe6l 
to  thefe  effefts  of  it  on  the  fouls  of  the  redeemed,  is 
carried  on  from  the  fall  to  the  end  of  the  world,  is  by 
repeating  and  continually  working  the  fame  work  over 
again,  though  in  different  perfons,  from  age  to  age. 
But, 

(2)  The  work  of  redemption,  with  ref^eEi  to  the 
B  grand 


S4  A  HISTORY  of 

grand  defign  in  general,  as  it  refpe6ts  the  universal  fub- 
jeft  and  end,  is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the 
end  of  the  world,  in  a  different  manner,  not  merely  by- 
repeating  or  renewing  the  fame  eifc6l  in  the  different 
fubjefts  of  it,  but  by  many  fuccefTive  works  and  difpen. 
fations  of  God^  all  tending  to  one  great  end  and  effeft,^ 
all  united  as  the  feveral  parts  of  a  Tcheme,  and  all   to- 
gether making  up  one  great  work.     Like  an  houfe  or 
temple  that  is  building;    firft,  the  workmen   are  fent 
forth,  then  the  materials  are  gathered,  then  the  grountJ 
fitted,  then  the  foundation  is  laid,  then  the  fuperitmc- 
ture  is  erefted,  one  part  after  another,   till  at  lengtlr 
the  top  ftone  is  laid,  and  all   is  finished.     Now  the 
work  of  redemption,  in  that  large  fenfe  that  has  been 
explained,  may  be  compared  to  fuch  a  building,  that  is 
carrying  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the 
world*    God  went  about  it  immediately  after  the  fall  of 
man.     Some  things  were  done  tov;ards  it  immediately, 
as  may  be  Ihown  hereafter ;  and  fo  God  has  proceeded, 
as  it  were,  getting  materials  and  building,  ever  fmce ; 
and  fo  will  proceed  to  the  end  of  the  world ;  and  tlTteii 
tlie  time  will  come  when  the  top  ftone  fhall  be  brought 
forth,  and  all  will  appear  compleat  and  confummate. 
The  glorious  ftrufture  will  then  ftand  forth  in  its  pio^ 
per  perfection. 

This  work  is  carried  on  in  the  former  refpeft  that" 
has  been  mentioned,  viz.  as  to  the  effeft  on  the  fouls 
of  particular  perfons  that  are  redeerried,  by  its  being  an 
effeft  that  is  common  to  all  ages.  The  work  is  carried 
on  in  this  latter  refpeft,  viz.  as  it  refpe61:s  the  church 
of  God,  and  the  grand  defign  in  general,  it  is  carried 
on,  not  only  by  that  which  is  common  to  all  ages,  but 
by  fucceffive  works  wrought  in  different  ages,  all  parts 
of  one  whole,  or  one  great  fcheme,  w^hereby  one  work 
is  brought  about  by  various  fteps,  one  ftep  in  one  age, 
ahd  another  in  another.  It  is  this  carrying  on  of  the 
work  of  redemption  that  I  fhall  chieflv  infift  upon, 
though  not  excluding  the  former ;  for  one  necefl'arily 
fuppofes  the  other. 

Having  thus  explained  what  I  mean  by  the  terms  of 
the  doftrine  ;  that  you  may  the  inore  clearly  fee  how' 
the  great  defign  and  work  of  redemption  is  carried  on 

from 


The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.        35 

from  the  fail  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world  ;    I    fay, 
in  order  to  this, 

I  now  proceed,  in  the  fecond  place,  to  (how  what  is 
the  defign  of  this  great   work,  or   what  things  are  de* 
figned  to  be  done  by  it.     In  order  to  fee  how  a  defign 
is  carried  on,  we  muft  firft  know  what  the   defign   is. 
To  know  how  a  workman  proceeds,  and  to  underiland 
the  various  fteps  he  takes  in  order  to  accomplifli  a  piece 
of  work,  we  need  to  be  informed  what  he  is  about,  or 
what  the  thing  is  that  he  intends  to  accQmplifh ;  other- 
wife  we  may  Itand  by,  and  fee  him  do  one    thing  after 
another,  and  be  quite  puzzled  and  in  the  dark,  feeing  no- 
thing of  his  fcheme,  and  underflanding  nothing  of  what 
he  means  by  it.  If  an  architeft,  with  a  great  number  of 
hands,  were  a  building  fome  great  palace,  and  one  that 
was  a  ft  ranger  to  fuch    things  fliould  Hand  by,  and  fee 
fome  men  digging  in  the  earth,  others  bringing  timber, 
others  hewing  ftones,    and  the  like,  he  might  fee   that 
there  was  a  great   deal    done ;  but  if  he  knew  nol  the 
defign,  it  wpuld   all  appear   to   him  confufion.     And 
therefore,  that   the  great    works    and  difpenfations  of 
God  that  belong  to  this  great  affair  of  redemption  may 
not  appear  like  confufion  to  you,  I    would  fet   before 
you  briefly  the  main  things  defigned  to  be  accpmplifh- 
ed  in  this  great  work,  to   accomplifli  which,  God  be- 
gan to    work  prefently    after  the  fall  of  man,  and  will . 
continue  working  to  the  end  of  the    world,  when   the 
whole  work  will  appear  completely  finifhed.     And  the 
main   things  defigned   to  be  done  by  it  are  thefe  that 
follow. 

I.  It  is  to  put  all  God's  enemies  under  his  feet,  and 
that  the  goodnefs  of  God  fhould  finally  appear  triumph- 
ing over  all  evil.  Soon  after  the  world  was  created, 
evil  entered  into  the  world  in  the  fall  of  the  angels  and 
man.  Prefently  after  God  bad  made  rational  crea- 
tures, there  were  enemies  who  rofe  up  againft  him 
from  among  them ;  and  in  the  fall  of  man  evil  entered 
into  this  lower  world,  and  God's  enemies  rofe  up 
againft  him  here.  Satan  rofe  up  againfl  God,  endea- 
vouring to  fruftrate  his  defign  in  the  creation  of  this 
lower  world,  to  deftroy  his  workman Ihip  here,  ^nd  to 
wreft  the  government  of  this  lower  world  out  of  his 
hands,  and  ufurp  the  throne  himfelf,  and  fet  up 
J&  i^  \iimk\i 


36  AHISTORYoF 

himfelf  as  god  of  this  world  inftead  of  the  God  that 
made  it.  And  to  thefe  ends  he  introduced  fm  into  the 
world ;  and  having  made  man  God's  enemy,  he  brought 
guilt  on  man,  and  brought  death  and  the  moft  extreme 
and  dreadful  mifery  into  the  world. 

Now  one  great  defign  of  God  in  the  affair  of  re- 
demption was,  to  reduce  and  fubdue  thofe  enemies  o£ 
God,  till  they  fhould  all  be  put  under  God's  feet : — 
1  Cor.  XV.  25.  "  He  muft  reign  till  he  hath  put  all  ene- 
"  mies  under  his  feet."  7'hings  were  originally  fo 
planned  and  defigned,  that  he  might  difappoint  and  con- 
found, and  triumph  over  Satan,  and  that  he  might  be 
bruifed  under  Chrift's  feet,  Gen.  iii.  15.  Thepromife 
was  given,  that  the  feed  of  the  woman  fhould  bruife 
the  ler,:ent's  head.  It  was  a  part  of  God's  original  de- 
fign in  liiis  work,  to  deftroy  the  works  of  the  devil, 
and  confound  him  in  all  his  purpofes :  1  John  iii.  8; 
'*  For  this  purpofe  was  the  Son  of  God  manifefted, 
•*  that  he  might  deftroy  the  works  of  the  devil."  It 
was  a  part  of  his  defign,  to  triumph  over  fin,  and  over 
the  corruptions  of  men,  aiid  to  root  them  out  of  the 
hearts  of  his  people,  by  conforming  them  to  himfelf- 
He  defigned  alfo,  that  his  grace  fhould  triumph  over 
man's  guilt,  and  that  infinite  demerit  that  there  is  in 
fin.  y\gain,  it  was  a  part  of  his  defign,  to  triumph 
over  death;  and  however  this  is  the  laft  enemy  that 
fhall  be  deftrbyed,  yet  that  fhall  finally  be  vanquifhed 
and  deftroycd.     '  ■.■,.■..■■  .- 

God  thus  appears  glorioufly  above  all  evil ;  and  tri- 
umphing over  all  his  enemies,  was  one  great  thing  that 
God  intended  by  the  work  of  redemption ;  and  the 
\vork  by  ^vhich  this  was  to  be  done,  God  immediately 
went  about  as  foon  as  man  fell ;  and  fo  goes  on  till  he 
fully  accomplifhes  it  in  the  end  of  the  world. 
'  II.  In  doing  this,  God's  defign  was  perfeftly  to  re- 
flore  all  the  ruins  of  the  fall,  fo  far  as  concerns  the 
ele61  part  of  theworld,  by  his  Son;  and  therefore  we 
read  of  the  rcfiitution-  of  all  things^  A6ls  iii.  21. 
*'  Whom  the  heaven  mufl  receive,  until  the  times  of 
^*  the  rejHtidion  of  all  things ;"  and  of  the  tunes  of  re^ 
f'rejhyng  from  the  prefence  of  the  Lord  Ji'fus,  A8s  iii; 
19.  "  Hepcnt  yc  therefore  and  be  converted,  that  your 

*'  fins    ' 


The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.        37 

?'  fins  may  be  blotted  out,  when  the  times  ofrefrejhing 
^■-  fhall  come  from  the  prefence  of  the  Lord." 

Man's  foul  was  ruined  by  the  fall ;  the  image  of  God 
was  ruined ;  man's  nature  was  corrupted  and  deftroy- 
cd,  and  man  became  dead  in  fm.  The  defign  of  God 
was,  to  reftore  the  foul  of  man ;  to  reftore  life  to  it,  and 
the  image  of  God,  in  converfion,  and  to  carry  on  the 
reftoration  in  fanftification,  and  to  perfect  it  in  glory. 
Man's  body  was  ruined ;  by  the  fall  it  became  fubjeft 
to  death.  The  defign  of  God  was,  to  reftore  it  from 
this  ruin,  and  not  only  to  deliver  it  from  death  in  the 
refurrettion,  but  to  deliver  it  from  mortality  itfelf,  in 
making  it  like  unto  Chrift's  glorious  body.  The  world 
was  ruined,  as  to  man,  as  effeftually  as  if  it  had  been 
reduced  to  chaos  again ;  all  heaven  and  earth  were 
overthrown.  But  the  defign  of  God  was,  to  reftore  all, 
and  as  it  were  to  create  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth  : 
If  Ixv.  17.  "  Behold  I  create  new  heavens,  and  a  new 
*'  earth ;  and  the  former  fhall  not  be  remembered,  nor 
*'  come  into  mind."  2  Pet.  iii.  13.  "  Neverthelefs  we, 
*'  according  to  his  promife,  look  for  new  heavens, 
*'  and  a  new  earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteoufnefs." 

The  work  by  which  this  was  to  be  done,  was  begun 
immediately  after  the  fall,  and  fo  is  carried  on  till  all 
is  finiftied  at  the  end,  when  the  whole  world,  heaven 
and  earth,  fhall  be  reftored ;  and  there  fhall  be  as  it 
Were,  new  heavens,  and  a  new  earth,  in  a  fpi ritual 
fenfe,  at  the  end  of  the  world.  Thus  it  is  reprefented. 
Rev.  xxi.  1.  ''And  I  faw  a  new  heaven,  and  a  new 
"  earth ;  for  the  firft  heaven  and  the  firft  earth  were 
**  paffed  away." 

III.  Another  great  defign  of  God  in  the  work  of  re- 
demption, was  to  gather  together  in  one  all  things  in 
Chrift,  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  i.  e.  all  eleft  creatures  ; 
to  bring  all  eleft  creatures,  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  to 
an  union  one  to  another  in  one  body,  under  one  head, 
and  to  unite  all  together  in  one  body  to  God  the  Fa- 
ther. This  was  begun  foon  after  the  fall,  and  is  car- 
ried on  through  all  ages  of  the  world,  and  finiflied  at 
the  end  of  the  world. 

IV.  God  defigned  by  this  work  to  perfefl;  and  com- 
plete the  g\ory  of  all  the  eleQ  by  Chrift.     It  was  a  de- 
fign 


gS  AHISTORYoF 

fign  of  God  to  advance  the  cleft  to  an  exceeding  pitch 
of  glory,  "  fuch  as  eye  hath  not  feen,  nor  ear  heard, 
*'  nor  has  ever  entered  into  the  heart  of  man."  He 
intended  to  bring  them  to  perfect  excellency  and  beau- 
ty in  his  image,  and  in  holinefs,  which  is  the  proper 
beauty  of  fpiritual  beings ;  and  tp  advance  them  to  a 
glorious  degree  of  honor,  and  alfo  tp  an  ineffable 
pitch  of  pleafure  and  joy ;  and  thus  to  glorify  the 
whole  church  of  eleft  men  in  foul  and  body,  and  with 
them  to  bring  the  glory  of  the  eleft  Angels  to  its  high- 
ell  pitch,  under  one  head.  The  work  which  tends  to 
this,  God  began  immediately  after  the  fall,  and  carries 
on  through  all  ages,  and  will  have  perfefted  at  the  end 
of  the  world. 

V.  In  all  this  God  defigned  to  accomplifli  the  glory 
of  the  bleffed  Trinity  in  an  exceeding  degree.  God 
had  a  defign  of  glorifying  himfelf  from  eternity  ;  to 
glorify  each  perfon  in  the  Godhead.  The  end  muft  be 
confidered  as  firft  in  order  of  nature,  and  then  the 
means  ;  and  therefore  we  muft  conceive,  that  God  ha- 
ving profeffed  this  end,  had  then  as  it  were,  the  means 
to  chufe,  and  the  principal  mean  that  he  pitched  iipon 
was  this  great  work  of  redemption  that  we  are  fpeak- 
''  ing  -of.  It  was  his  defign  in  this  work,  to  glorify  his 
onlv  begotten  fon,  Jefus  Chrift  ;  and  it  was  his  defign, 
by  the  Son,  to  glorify  the  Father:  John  xiii.  31.  32. 
*'  Now  is  the  Son  of  man  glorified,  and  God  is  glori- 
**  fied  in  him.  If  God  be  glorified  in  him,  God  alfo 
•'  fhall  glorify  him  in  himfelf,  and  fliall  ftraightway 
**  glorify  him."  It  was  his  defign  that  the  Son  fhould 
thus  be  glorified,  and  fhould  glorify  the  Father  by  what 
jhould  be  accomplifhed  by  the  Spirit,  to  the  gloiy  of  the 
Spirit,  that  the  whole  Trinity,  conjunftly,  and  each 
perfon  fingly,  might  be  exceedingly  glorified.  The 
work  that  was  the  appointed  means  of  this,  was  begun 
immediately  after  the  fall,  and  is  carried  on  till,  and 
finifhcd  at,  the  end  of  the  w^orld,  when  all  this  intend* 
cd  glory  fhall  be  fully  accomplifiied  in  all  things. 

Having  thus  explained  the  terms  made  ufe  of  in 
the  doctrine,  and  fhown  what  the  things  are  which  are 
to  be  accomplifhed  by  this  great  work  of  God,  I  pro- 
ceed  now  to  the  propofed  hiflory ;    that  is,  to  fhow 

liow 


tiiE  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       3^ 

tiow  what  was  defigncd  by  the  work  of  redemption  hai 
been  accompHfhed,  in  the  various  Heps  of  this  work* 
from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

In  order  to  this,  I  would  divide  this  whole  fpace  of 
time  into  three  periods  : the 

1  ft,  reaching  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation 
bf  Chrift ;— the 

2d,  from  Chrifl^'s  incarnation  till  his  refurreftion ; 
br  the  whole  time  of  Chrift's  humiliation ; — the 

3d,  from  thence  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

It  may  be  fome  may  be  ready  to  think  this  a  very"  un^ 
fcqual  divifion  :  and  it  is  fo  indeed  in  fome  refpetts.  It 
isfo,  becaufe  the  fecond  period  is  fo  much  the  greateft : 
for  although  it  be  fo  much  fhorter  than  either  of  the 
other,  being  but  between  thirty  and  forty  years,  where- 
as both  the  others  contain  thoufands ;  yet  in  this  affair 
that  we  are  now  upon,  it  is  more  than  both  the  others. 
— I  would  therefore  proceed  to  {how  diftinftly,  how  the 
work  of  redemption  is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man 
to  the  end  of  the  world^  through  each  of  thefe  periods 
in  their  order  ;  which  I  would  do  under  three  propofi- 
tions — one  concerning  each  period. 

L  That  from  the  fall  of  man  till  the 
incarnation  of  Chrift,  God  was  doing 
thofe  things  that  were  preparatory  to 
Chrift's  coming,  and  working  out  re- 
demption, a:nd  were  forerunners  and 
earnefts  of  it. 

II.  That  the  time  from  Chrift's  incar- 
nation, till  his  refurreftion,  was  fpent  in 
procuring  and  purchafing  redemption. 

III.  That  the  fpace  or  time  from  the 
refurreftion  of  Chrift  to  the  end  of  the. 
world,  is  all  taken  up  in  bringing  about 
or  accompliftiing  the  great  eflfeft  or  fuc- 
cefs  of  that  purchafe. 

In  a  particular  confidcration  of  thefe  three  propofi- 
tions,  the  great  truth  taught  in  the  doftrine  may  pea 
haps  appear  in  a  clear  light,  and  wc  may  fee  how  the 
work  of  redemption  is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  mji^ 
to  the  end  of  the  world.  PERIOD 


4C 


PERIOD    i. 

From  the  Fall  to  the  Incarnation* 


MY  firft  tafk  is,  to  fhow  how  the  work  of  re- 
demption is  carried  on  fro7n  the  fall  of  man  to 
the  incarnation  of  Chrift^  under  the  fiifl  propofitioni 
viz. 

That  the  fpace  of  time  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the 
incarnation  of  Chrift,  was  taken  up  .in  doing  thofe 
things  that  were  forerunners  and  earnefls  of  Chrift's 
coming,  and  working  out  redemption,  and  were  pre- 
paratory to  it. 

The  great  works  of  God  in  the  world  during  this 
whole  fpace  of  time,  were  all  preparatory  to  this. — 
There  were  many  great  changes  and  revolutions  in  the 
world,  and  they  were  all  only  the  turning  of  the  wheels 
of  providence  in  order  to  this,  to  make  way  for  the 
coming  of  Chrift,  and  what  he  was  to  do  in  the  world. 
They  all  pointed  hither,  and  all  ifTued  here.  Hither 
tended  efpecially  all  God's  great  works  towards  his 
church.  The  church  was  under  various  difpenfatioris 
of  providence,  and  in  very  various  circumftances,  be- 
fore Chrift  came.  But  all  thefe  difpenfations  were 
to  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming.  God  wrought 
falvation  for  the  fouls  of  men  through  all  that  fpace 
of  time,  though  the  number  was  very  fmall  to  what  it 
was  afterwards  ;  and  all  this  falvation  was,  as  it  were, 
by  way  of  anticipation.  All  the  fouls  that  were  faved 
before  Chrift  came,  were  only  as  it  were,  the  earnefts 
of  the  future  harveft. 

God  wrought  many  lefTer  falvations  and  deliverances 
for  his  church  and  people  before  Chrift  came.  Thefe 
falvations  were  all  but  fo  many  images  and  forerunners 
of  the  great  falvation  Chrift  was  to  work  out  when  he 
ftiould  come.  God  revealed  himfelf  of  old,  from  time 
to  time,  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  coming  of  Chrift. 

The 


Peiiodl.  A   HISTORY,  ^c.  41 

The  church  during  that  fpace  of  time  enjo)'edtht>liaht 
of  divine  revelation,  or  God's  word.  They  had  in  ji 
degree  the  Hght  of  the  gofpeh  But  all  thefe  revela- 
tions were  only  fo  many  forerunners  and  earnefls  of 
-the  great  light  that  he  ihould  hring  who  came  to  be  the 
light  of  the  world.  That  whole  fpace  of  time  was  as 
it  were  the  time  of  night,  wherein  the  church  of  God 
w^as  not  indeed  wholly  without  light :  but  it  was  like 
the  lipht  oi"  the  moon  and  flars  that  we  have  in  the 
night ;  a  dim  light  \n  comparifon  of  the  light  of  the 
fun,  and  mixed  with  a  great  deal  of  darknefs.  If  had 
no  glory,  by  reafon  of  the  glory  that  excelleth,  2  Cor. 
iii.  10.  The  church  had  indeed  the  light  of  the  fun, 
but  it  was  only  as  reflefted  from  the  moon  and  ftars. 
The  church  all  that  while  was  a  minor.  This  the 
Apoftle  evidently  teaches  in  Gal.iv.  1.2.  3.  *'  Now  I 
**  fay,  that  the  heir,  as  long  as  he  is  a  child,  differeth 
*'  nothing  from  a  fervant,  though  he  be  lord  of  all ; 
*'  but  is  under  tutors  and  governors,  until  the  time  ap- 
*'  pointed  of  the  father.  Even  fo  we,  when  we  were 
**  children,  were  in  bondage  under  the  elements  of  th^ 
"  world." 

But  here,  for  the  greater  clearnefs  and  diflinftnefs, 
I  would  fubdivide  this  period  from  the  fall  of  man  to 
the  coming  of  Chrift,  into  fix  lefTer  periods  or  parts  ; 
The 

ift,  extending  from  the  fall  to  the  flood  ; — the 

2d,  from  thence  to  the   calling  of  Abraham ; — the 

3d,  from  thence  to  Mofes ; — the 

4th,  from  thence  to  David ; — the 

5th,  from  David  to  the  captivity  into  Bab)don— « 
and  the 

6th,   from  thence  to  the  incarnation  of  Chrift.    ; ' 


PART        I, 

F/-o?n  the  Fall  to  the  Flood. 

THIS    was  a   period  farthell  of   all   diftant  from 
Chrift's  incarnation  ;    yet  then  this  prreat  work 
was  begim  to  be  carried  on ;    then  was   this  glorious 
C  buildinq; 


a 


i/  T'}  • 


4i  A  HISTORY   OF  PeHodl 

buildi"^  begun,  that  will  not  be  finifhed  till  the  end  of 
Ae  world,  as  I  would  no\v  (how  you  how.  And  to 
this  purpofe  I  would  obferve, 

I.  As  foon  as  ever  man  fell,  Chrifl:  entered  on  his 
Mediatorial  work.  Then  it  was  that  Clirift  hrft  took 
on  him  the  work  and  office'  of  a  mediator.  He  had  un- 
dertaken it  before  the  world  was  made.  He  flood  en- 
gaged with  the  Father  to  appear  as  man's  mediator,  and 
to  take  on  that  office  ivhen  there  Ihoidd  be  occafion, 
from  all  eternity.  But  now  the  tim,e  was  come.  When 
man  fell,  then  the  occafion  came  ;  and  then  Chrift  im- 
mediately, wifhout  furdier  dela)%  entered  on  his  work, 
and  took  on  him  that  office  that  he  had  Hood  engaged 
to  take  on  him  from  eternity.  As  foon  as  ever  man 
fell,  Chrifl:,  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  cloathed  himfelf 
with  the  m.ediatorial  charafter,  and  therein  prefented 
liimfelf  before  the  Father.  He  immediately  Itepped  m 
between  an  holy,  infinite,  offended  Maicfly,  and  of- 
fendi]][g  mankind;  and  was  accepted  in  his  interpofu 
tion ;  and  fo  wrath  ^vas  prevented  from  going  forth  in 
the  full  execution  of  that  am^azing  curfe  that  man  had 
brought  on  himfelf. 

It  is  manifelf  that  Chrift  began  to  exercife  the  office 
of  mediator  between  God  and  man  as  foon  as  ever  man 
fell,  becaufe  mercy  be^cran  to  be  exercifed  towards  man 
immediately.  There  was  mercy  in  the  forbearance  of 
God,  that  he  did  not  delhoy  him,  as  he  did  the  Angels 
when  they  fell.  But  there  is  no  mercy  exercifed  toward 
fallen  man,  but  through  a  mediator.  If  God  had  not 
hi  mercy  r^flrained  Satan,  he  would  imjiiediately  have 
feized  on  his  prey.  Chrift  began  to  do-  the  part  of  an 
interceffor  for  man,  as  foon  as  he  fell.  There  is  no 
mercy  exercifed  towards  man,  but  what  is  obtained 
through  Chriit's  inierceffion:  So  that  nov/  Chrift  was 
entered  on  his  work  that  he  was  fo  continue  in  dirough- 
out  all  ages  of  the  world.  From  that  day  forward 
Chrift  took  on  him  the  care  of  the  church  of  the  ele6t: 
He  took  on  him"  the  care  of  fallen  man  in  the  exercife 
of  all  his  offices  -^  he  undertook  thenceforward  ta 
teach  mankind  in  the  exercife  of  his  prophetical  office; 
and  alfo  to  intercede  for  fallen  man  in  liis  prieftly  of- 
fice ;  and  he  took  on  him,  as  it  were,  the  care  and  bur- 
den  of  the  government   of  the  church,  and  of  the 

world 


Part  I.      The  Work  Of  REDEMPTION.       43 

world  of  mankind,  from  this  day  forward.  He  from 
tliat  time  took  upon  liim  the  care  of  the  defence  of  liis 
eletl  church  from  all  their  enemies.  When  Saian, 
the  grand  enemy,  had  conquered  and  overthrown  man, 
the  bufinefs  of  refilling  and  conquering  him  was  com- 
mitted to  Chriit.  He  thenceforward  undertook  to 
manage  that  fubtle,  powerful  adverfary.  He  was  then 
appointed  the  Captain  of  the  Lord's  Hofts,  and  the 
Captain  of  their  falvation,  and  always  a6fed  as  fuch 
thenceforward  :  and  fo  he  appeared  from  time  to  tim.e, 
and  he  will  continue  to  aft  as  fuch  to  the  end  of  tlie 
world.  Henceforward  this  lov/er  world,  Vvith  all  its 
concerns,  was,  as  it  were,  devolved  upon  the  Son  of 
God:  for  when  man  had  finned,  God  the  Father  would 
have  no  more  to  do  with  man  immediately;  he  would 
no  more  have  any  immediate  concern  with  this  world 
lof  mankind,  that  bad  apollatized  from  and  rebelled 
againft  him.  He  would  henceforward  have  no  con- 
cern with  m^an,  but  only  through  a  mediator  either  in 
teaching  m.en,  or  in  governing  or  beftowing  any  be- 
nefits on  them. 

Ana  therefore,  when  we  read  in  facred  hiftory  what 
God  did  from  time  to  tim.e  towards  his  church  and  peo- 
ple, and  what  he  faid  to  them,  and  how  he  revealed 
himfelf  to  them,  we  are  to  underiland  it  efpecially  of 
the  fecond  perlon  of  the  Trinity.  When  we  read  of 
God's  appearing  after  the  fall,  from  time  to  time,  in 
fome  vifible  form  or  outward  fymbol  of  his  prefence, 
we  are  ordniardy,  if  not  univerfally,  to  underftand  it 
of  the  fccpnd  perfon  of  the  Trinitv;  Vv^hich  may  be 
argued  from  Johni.  18.  "  No  man  hath  feen  God  at 
"  anytime;  the  only  begotten  Son;  which  is  in  the 
*'  bofom  of  the  Father,  he  hath  declared  him."  He  is 
therefore  called  ^'  the  image  of  the  invifible  God," 
Col.  i.  15.  intimating,  that  though  God  the  Father  be 
invifible,  yet  Ghrift  is  his  image  or  reprefcntation,  by 
which  he  is  leen,  or  by  which  the  church  of  God  hath 
often  had  a  reprefcntation  of  him,  that  i^  not  invifible, 
'and  in  particular  that  Chrift  has  after  appeared  in  an 
human  form. 

Yea  not  only  was  tl^is  lower  world  devolved  on  ChriH, 
that  he  might  ha\-e  the  care  and  government  of  it,  and 
^rdcr  it  agreeably  to  ))is  defigxi  of  redemption,  but  vAio. 
C  2  iii 


44  AHISTORYoF  Period  I. 

in  fome  rerpc6l  the  whole  Univerfe.   The  Angels  from 
that  time  were  committed  to  him,  to  be  fubjett  to  him 
in  bis  mediatorial  ofhce,  to  be  nnniftringfpirits  to  him 
in  th^s  affair;  and  accordingly  were  fo   from  this  time 
forwaid,  as  is  manifclf  by  the  fcriptiire-hiftorv,  where- 
in we  have  accounts  from  time  to  time  of  their  acting 
as  miniilring  fpiriis  in  the  affairs  of  thp  church  of 
Chrifl. 
r      And  therefore  ^ve  may  fuppofc,  that  immediately  on 
f  the  fall  of  man,  it  was  made  known  in  Heaven  among 
'    the  Angels,  that  God  had  a,  defign  of  redemption  w-ith 
refpe6t  to  fallen  man,  and  that   Chrift  had  now  taken 
upon  him  the  office  and  work  of  a  mediator  between 
God  and  man,  that  they  might  know  their   bi^mefs 
henceforward,  which  was  to  be  fubfervient  to  Chrift 
in  this  oiHce.     And  as  Chrift,  in  this  office,  has  fmce 
that,   as  God-man    and  Mediator,  been    folemnly  ex- 
alted ^nd  indalled  the  King  of  Heaven,  and  is  thence- 
forward as  God-man,   Mediator,     the  Light,  and  as  it 
were,  the  Sun  of  Heaven,  agreeable  to  Rev.  xxi.  23. 
"  And  the  city  had  no  need  of  the  Sun,  neither  of  the 
*'  Moon,    to  fhine  in  it ;    for  the   glory   of  God  did 
*'  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light  thereof;''  fo  this 
revelation  tl^at  was  made  in  Heaven  among  the  An- 
gels, of  Chrill's  now  having  taken  on  him  the  office  of 
a  mediator  between  God  and  man,  was  as  it  were  the 
firll  dawning  of  this  light  in  Heaven.     When  Chrift 
afcended   into  Heaven  after  his  paffion,  and  was  fo- 
lemnly inftalled  in  the  throne  as  King  of  Heaven,  then 
this  Sun  rofe  in  Heaven,  even  the    Lamib  that    is  tiic 
light   of  the  new  Jenifalcm.     But  the  light  began  to 
<iawn  immediately  after  the  fall. 

IL  Prefently  upon  this  tlie  gofpel  ^vas  firft  revealed 
on  earth,  ni  thefe  words.  Gen.  iii.  15.  "  And  I  will 
*'  put  enmity  between  thee  and  the  w^oman,  and  be- 
*'  tween  thy  feed  and  lier  feed  :  It  Ihall  bruife  thy 
*'  head,  and  thou  ffialt  bniife  his  heel."  We  m.uil 
fuppofe,  that  Crods  intention  of  redeeming  fallen 
man,  was  firft  hgniiied  in  Heaven  before  it  was  figni- 
fied  on  earth,  becaufe  the  bufinefs  of  the  Angels  as  mini- 
ftring  fpirits  of  the  mediator  required  it ;  for  as  foon  as 
ever  Chi  ill  had  taken  on  him  the  work  of  a  mediator,  it 
was  re^iuiliLe  that  the  Angels  fiiould  be  reiidy  immediate- 
ly 


Part  I.      The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.      45 

Iv  to  be  fubfervient  to  him  in  that  office :  fo  that  the 
light  firft  dawned  in  Heaven ;  but  very  ibon  after  the 
i'ame  was  fignified  on  earth.  In  thofe  words  of  God 
there  was  an  intimation  of  another  furety  to  be  ap- 
pointed for  man,  after  the  firft  fiirety  had  failed.  1  his 
was  the  firft  revelation  of  the  covenant  of  grace ;  this 
was  the  firft  dawning  of  the  light  of  the  gofpel  on 
earth. 

This  lower  ^vprld,  before  the  fall,  enjoyed  noon-day 
light ;  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  God,  the  light 
of  his  glor)',  and  the  light  of  his  favour.  B|it  when 
man  fell,  all  this  light  was  at  once  extinguirfred,  and 
the  world  reduced  back  again  to  total  darknefs ;  a  worfe 
darknefs  than  that  which  was, in  the  beginning  of  tiie 
world,  that  we  read  of  Gen.  i.  2.  "  And  the  earth 
•'  was  without  form,  and  void,  and  darknefs  was  upon 
*'  the  face  of  the  deep."  This  was  a  darknefs  a  thou- 
fand  times  more  remedilefs  than  that.  Neither  men 
nor  Angels  could  find  out  any  way  whereby  this  iiark- 
nefs  might  be  fcattered.  This  darknefs  appeared  in  its 
blacknefs  then,  when  A^/ai/i  and  his  wdfe  faw  that  they 
were  naked,  and  fewed  fig-leaves,  and  when  they 
iieard  the  voice  of  the  Lord  God  walking  in  the  gar- 
fden,  and  hid  themfelves  among  the  trees  of  the  gar- 
den ;  and  when  God  firft  called  them  to  an  account, 
and  laid  to  Adam,  what  is  this  that  thou  haft  done  ? 
*'  Haft  thou  eaten  of  the  tree  whereof  I  commanded 
*'  thee  that  thou  fhouldft  not  eat  ?"  Then  we  may 
fuppofe  that  their  hearts  w^ere  filled  wuth  fliame  and  ter- 
ror. But  thefe  words  of  God,  Gen.  iii.  15.  were  the 
firft  dawning  of  the  light  of  the  gofpel  after  this  dark- 
nefs. Now  firft  appeared  fome  glimmering  of  light, 
after  this  difmal  darknefs,  which,  before  this,  was  with- 
out one  glimpfe  of  light,  any  beam  of  comfort,  or  any 
the  leaft  hope.  It  was  an  obfcure  revelation  of  tlie 
■gofpel ;  and  was  not  made  to  Adam  or  Eve  direftly,  but 
it  was  in  wdiat  God  faid  to  the  ferpent.  But  yet  it  was 
veiy  comprehenfive,  as  might  be  eafily  fhown,  would 
it  not  take  up  too  much  time. 

Here  w^as  a  certain  intimation  of  a  merciful  defign 
by  '*  the  feed  of  the  woman,"  which  was  like  the  firft. 
glimmerings  of  the  light  of  the  Sun  in  the  eaft  when 
the  day  firfl  dawns.  This  intimation  of  mercy  was  gi- 
ven. 


4^  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  OF  P-eriod  L 

ven  them,  even  before  fentencc  was  pronounced  on 
either  Adam  or  Eve,  from  tendernefs  to  them,  to 
%vhom  God  defigned  mer<:y,  left  they  fhould  be  over- 
born with  a  fentence  of  condemnation,  without  having 
any  thing  held  forth  whence  they  .could  gather  any 
iiope. 

One  of  thofe  great  things  that  were  intended  to  be 
^one  by  the  work  of  redemption,  is  more  plainly  inti- 
mated here  than  the  reft,  viz.  God's  fubduing  his  ene- 
fnies  under  the  feet  of  his  Son.  This  was  threatened 
iiO'vv%  and  God's  defign  of  this  was  now  firft  declared, 
which  was  the  work  Chrift  had  now  midertaken,  and 
which  he  foon  began,  and  carried  on  thenceforward, 
and  will  perfeftly  accomplifti  at  the  end  of  the  world. 
Satan  probably  had  triamphed  greatly  in  the  fall  of 
man,  as  though  he  had  defeated  the  <iefign5  of  God  in 
the  creation  of  man  and  the  world  in  general.  But  in 
thefe  words  God  gives  him  a  plain  intimation,  that  he 
ihould  not  finally  triumph,  but  that  a  complete  vi61ory 
and  triumph  fhould  be  obtained  over  him  by  the  feed 
of  the  wom.an. 

This  revelation  of  the  gofpel  in  this  verfe  was  the 
firft  thing  that  Ghrift  did  in  his  prophetical  office. 
You  may  remember,  that  it  was  faid  in  the  firft  of  thofe 
three  propofitions  that  have  been  mentioned,  that  from 
the  fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation  of  Chrift,  God  was 
-doing  thofe  things  that  were  preparatory  to  Chrift's  co- 
ming and  working  out  redemption,  and  v/ere  forerun- 
ners and  earnefts  of  it.  And  one  of  thofe  things  Vvhich 
God  did  in  this  time  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrifl'« 
•coming  into  the  world,  was  toforetei  and  promife  it,  as 
he  did  from  time  to  time,  from  age  to  age,  till  Chrift 
-came.  Tliis  was  the  firft  promife  that  ever  was  given 
of  it,  the  firft  prediftion  that  ever  was  made  of  it  on, 
earth, 

III.  Soon  after  this,  the  cuftom  of  facrificing  was 
appointed,  to  be  a  fteady  type  of  the  facrifice  of  Chrift 
till  he  Ihould  come,  and  offer  up  himfelf  a  facrifice  to 
God.  Sacrificing  was  not  a  cuftom  firft  eftablifhedby 
the  Levitical  law  of  Moles ;  for  it  had  been  a  part  of 
God's  inftituted  worfliip  long  before,  even  from  the 
be.!xinning  of  God's  vifible  church  on  earth.  We  read 
of  the  patriarchs,  Abrrdiam,   Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  ofFer)^ 

jiig  ' 


Fart  I.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION       47 

hig  facrlfice,  and  before  them  Noah,  and  before  him 
AbcL  And  this  was  by  divine  appointment ;  tor  it 
was  part  of  God's  wmiliip  in  his  church,  that  was  ot- 
fered  up  in  faith,  and  that  he  accepted :  which  proves, 
thai  it  was  by  his  inftitution ;  for  facrificing  k  no  part 
of  natural  worihip.  The  hght  of  natiue  doth  not 
teach  men  to  offer  up  bealls  in  facrifrce  to  God;  and 
feeing  it  was  not  enjoined  by  the  law  of  nature,  if  it 
was  acceptable  to  God,  it  muft  be  b)-  fome  pofitive  Com- 
mand or  in-ftitution;  for  God  has  declared  his  abhor- 
rence of  fuch  worihip  as  is  taught  by  the  precept  of 
men  without  hisinftitution :  If.  xxix.  13.  "  Wherefore 
*'  the  Lord  faith,  Forafmuch  as  this  people  draw  near 
*'  me  with  their  mouth,  and  with  their  lips  do  honour 
"  me,  but  have  removed  their  heart  far  from  me,  and 
*'  their  fear  towards  me  is  taught  by  the  precept  of 
"  men ;  therefore  behold,  I  will  proceed  to  do  a  mar- 
*'  vellous  xvork,"  &c.  And  fuch  worfliip  as  hath  not 
a  warrant  from  divine  inilitution,  cannot  be  offered  up 
in  faith,  becaufe  faith  has  no  foundation  where  there 
is  no  divine  appointment.  It  cannot  be  offered  up  ia 
faith  of  God's  acceptance ;  for  men  have  no  warrant  to 
liope  for  God's  acceptance,  in  that  which  is  not  of  his 
appointment,  and  in  that  to  which  he  hath  not  promi^ 
fed  his  acceptance:  and  therefore  it  follows,  that  the 
cuftom  of  offering  facrifices  to  God  was  inftituted  foort 
after  the  fall ;  for  the  fcripture  teaches  us,  that  Abel 
offered  "  the  firftlings  of  his  flock,  and  of  the  fat 
*'  thereof,"  Gen.  iv.  4.  and  that  he  was  accepted  of 
God  in  this  offering,  Heb.  xi.  4.  And  there  is  nothing 
in  the  ftory  that  looks  as  though  the  inftitution  was  firil: 
given  then  when  Abel  offered  up  that  facrifice  to  God; 
but  it  appears  as  though  Abel  only  therein  complied 
with  a  cuftom  already  eftablifned. 

And  it  is  ver)^  probable  that  it  was-  inftituted  imme- 
diately after  God  had  revealed  the  covenant  of  grace, 
in  Gen.  iii.  15.  which  covenant  and  promife  was  the 
foundation  on  which  the  cuftom  of  facrificing  was 
built.  That  promife  was  the  firft  ftone  that  was  laid  to- 
wards this  glorious  building,  the  work  of  redemption, 
which  will  be  finifhed  at  the  end  of  the  world.  And 
the  next  ftone  which  was  laid  upon  that,  was  the  infti« 
tution  of  fiacrifices,  to  be  a  tvpe  of  the  greatfacnfia:. 

The 


48  AHISTORYOF  Period  I. 

The  next  thing  that  we  have  an  account  of  after  God 
had  pronounced  lentence  on  the  ferpent,  on  the  woman, 
and  on  the  man,  was,  that  God  made  them  coats  of 
Ikins,  and  clothed  them ;  which,  by  the  generahty  of 
divines,  are  thought  to  be  the  fkins  of  beafts  flain  in 
facriiice ;  for  we  have  no  account  of  an)^  thing  elfe 
that  fhould  be  the  occafion  of  man's  Haying  beafts,  but 
only  to  offer  them  in  facrifice,  till  after  the  flood.  Men 
were  not  wont  to  eat  the  flelh  of  beafts  as  their  com- 
mon food  till  after  the  flood.  The  fiill  food  of  man  in 
paradifc  before  the  fall  was  the  fruit  of  the  trees  of  pa- 
radife ;  and  when  he  was  turned  out  of  paradife  after 
the  fall,  then  his  food  was  the  herb  of  the  field :  Gen. 
iii.  18.  "  And  thou  Ihalt  eat  of  the  herb  of  the  field." 
The  firfl  grant  that  he  had  to  eat  flefli  as  his  common 
food  was  after  the  flood :  Gen.  ix.  3.  "  Every  moving 
*'  thing  that  liveth  fhall  be  meat  for  you ;  even  as  the 
"  green  herb  have  I  given  you  all  things."  So  that  it 
is  likely  that  thefe  fkins  that  Adam  and  Eve  were  clo- 
thed with,  were  the  fkins  of  their  facrifices.  God's  clo- 
thing them  with  thefe  was  a  livelv  figure  of  their  being 
slothed  with  the  righteoufnefs  of  Chrifl.  This  clo- 
thing was  no  clothingof  their  own  obtaining ;  but  it  was 
God  that  gave  it  them.  It  is  faid,  "  God  made  them 
*'  coats  of  fkins,  and  clothed  them;"  as  the  righte- 
oufnefs our  naked  fouls  are  clothed  with,  is  not  our 
righteoufnefs,  but  the  righteoufnefs  which  is  of  God. 
It  is  he  only  clothes  the  naked  foul. 

Our  firfl  parents,  who  were  naked,  were  clothed  at 
the  expence  of  life.  Beafts  were  flain,  and  refigned  up 
their  lives  a  facrifice  to  God,  to  afford  clothing  to  them 
to  cover  their  nakednefs.  So  doth  Chrifl,  to  afford 
clothing  to  our  naked  fouls.  The  fkin  fignifies  the 
life  :  So  Job  ii.  4.  "  Skin  for  fkin,  yea  all  that  a  man 
*•  hath  will  he  give  for  his  life ;"  i.  e.  life  for  life.  Thus 
our  firfl  parents  were  covered  with  fkins  of  facrifices, 
as  the  tabernacle  in  the  wildernefs,  which  fignified  the 
church,  was,  when  it  was  covered  with  rams  flvins  died 
red,  as  though  thev  were  dipped  in  blood,  to  fignify 
that  Chrifl's  righteoufnefs  was  wrouglit  out  through  the 
pains  of  death,  under  which  he  fhed  his  precious 
blood.   , 

We  obferved  before,  that  the  hglit  that  the  church 

enjoyed 


Part  I.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION        49 

enjoyed  from  the  fall  of  man  till  Chrift  came,  was  like 
the  lio-ht  which  we  enjoy  in  the  night ;  not  the  light  or 
the  Sun  direcily,  but  as  refle6icd  from  the  Moon  and 
Stars ;  which  light  didforelhow  Chrilt,  the  Sun  of  righ- 
teoufnefs  that  was  afterwards  to   arife.     This  light  of 
the  Sun  of  righteoufnefs  to  come  they  had  chietly  two 
w^ays ;  one  was  by  prediftions  of  Chrilt  to  come,  where- 
by his  coming  was   foretold  and  promifcd ;  the  other 
was  by  types  and  fliadows,  whereby  his  coming  and  re- 
demption were  prefigured.     The  firft   thing  that  was 
done  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrift  in  the  former  of 
thefe  ways,  was  in  that  promife  that  was  juft  taken  no- 
tice of  in  the  foregoing  particular ;  and  the  firft  thing 
of  the  latter  kind,  viz,  of  types,  to  forefiiow  Chrift's 
coming,  was  that  inftitution  of  facrifices  that  we  are 
now  upon.     As  that  promife  in  Gen.  iii.   15.  was  the 
firft  dawn  of  gofpel-light  after  the  fall,  in  prophecy;  ^o 
the  inftitution  of  facrifices  was  the  firfl   hint   of  it  in 
types.     The  giving  of  that  promife  was  the  firft  thing 
that  was  done   after  the  fall,  in  thi^  work  in  Chrift's 
prophetical  office  ;  the  inftitution  of  facrifices  was  the 
firft    thing   that  we  read   of  after  the  fall,   by  which 
^Ipecially  Chrift  exhibited  himfelf  in  his  prieftly  office. 
The  inftitution  of  facrifices  was  a  great  thing  done 
towards  preparing  the  way  for  Chrift's  coming,  and 
working  out  redemption.     For  the    facrifices  of  the 
Old  Teftament  were  the  main  of  all  the  Old  Teftairxnt 
types  of  Chrift  and  his  redemption ;  and  it  tended  to 
effablifh  in  the  minds  of  Gods  vifible  church,  the  ne- 
ceffity  of  a'propitiatory  facrifice,  in  order  to  the  Deity's 
being  fatisfied  for  fin  ;   and  fo  prepared  the  way  for 
the  reception  of  the  glorious  gofpel,  that  reveals  the 
great  facrifice  in  the  vifible  church,  and  not  only  fo, 
but  through  the  world  of  mankind.     For  from  this 
inftitution  of  facrifices   that  was  after  the  fall,  all  na- 
tions derived  the  cuftom  of  facrificing.     For  this  cuf- 
tom  of  offering  up  facrifices  to  the  gods,  to  atone  for 
their  fins,  was  common  to  all  nations.     No   nation, 
however  barbarous,  was   found  v/ithout  it  any  where. 
This  IS  a  great  evidence  of  the  truth  of  the  chriftian 
religion;  for  no  nation  but   only  the  Jews,  could  tell 
how  they  came  by  this  cuftom,  or  to  what  purpofe  it 
was  to  offer  facrifices  to  their  deities,     The  light  of  na- 
D  twre 


30  A  M  I  S  T  O  il  Y   or  P.rbJ  L 

tiire  (lid  not  teach  them  any  fuch  thing.  Th.at  did  not 
teach  them  that  tlie  godj»  were  hungry,  and  fed  upon 
the  fl-  fh  wiiich  they  bumi  in  lacrifice  ;  and  yet  they  all 
had  this  culiom ;  of  which  no  oiher  account  can  be 
givea,  but  that  they  derived  it  fiom  Noah,  who  had 
It  from  his  ancelfors,  on  wliom  God  had  enjoined  it  as 
a  type  of  the  great  lacrifice  of  Ghriit.  However,  by 
tliis  means  ah  nations  of  the  world  had  their  minds 
j^olfelied  with  this  notion,  tliat  an  atonement  or  facri- 
iice  for  fin  was  neceflary ;  and  a  way  was  miade  for 
their  more  readdy  receiving  the  great  doctrine  of  the 
gv^fpel  of  Ciiriil,  Vvhich  teaches  as  the  atonement  and 
lacrifice  of  Chrilt. 

IV.  God  did"  foori  after  the  fall  begin  aflually  to  fave 
the  fouls  of  men  through  Ghrili's  redemption.  In  this-. 
Chrill,  who  had  lately  taken  upon  him  the  work  of 
mediator  bctv-,een  God  and  man,  did  firft  begin  that 
V.  ork,  wherein  he  appeared  in  die  exercife  of  his  king- 
ly Oiuce,  as  m  the  lacrifices  he  was  reprefentcd  in  his 
priellly  oEce,  and  in  the  firft  predidion  of  redemption 
by  Chriif  he  had  appeared  in  the  exercife  of  his  pro- 
phelical  oifice.  In  that  prediction  the  light  of  Chrift's 
rcdt^mpiion  firfl  began  to  dawn  in  the  prophecies  of  it ; 
in  [he  ir>{litution  of  facrifices  it  fiiil  began  to  da^vn  in 
the  types  of  it;  in  this,  viz.  his  beginning  a61iially  to 
iave  men,  it  nrft  began  to  dawn  in  the  fruit  of  it. 

It  is  probable,  tliesefore,  that  j4{Ia?7i  and  Eve  were  the 
firil  fruits  of  Ghrilt's  redemption  ;  it  is  probable  by 
God's  manner  of  tieaiing  them,  by  his  comforting 
tiiem  as  he  did,,  after  their  awakenings  and  terrors^ 
They  were  awakened,  and  afhamed  with  a  fenfe  of  their 
guilt,  after  their  fall,  when  their  eyes  were  opened,  and 
they  faw  that  they  were  naked,  and  fewed  fig-lea\'es  to 
cover  their  nakednefs  ;  as  the  finner,  under  the  firft  a- 
wakenings,  is  wont  to  endeavour  to  hide  die  nakednefs 
o{  his  foul,  by  patching  up  a  righteoufnefs  of  his  own. 
Then  they  were  further  tenified  and  awakened,  by 
hearing  the  voice  of  God,  as  he  was  coming  to  con- 
c-jnnr  them.  ^  Their  coverings  of  fig-leaves  do  not  an- 
fwer  the  purpofe  ;  but,  not  with/landing  tliefe,  they  ran 
to  hide  themfelves  among  the  trees  of  the  garden,  be- 
caufe  they  were  naked,  not  daring  to  truft  to  their  fig- 
lca\-CG  to  hide  their  nakednefs  from  Cod.     Then  they 

were 


fart  I.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      ji 

were  further  awakened  by  God's  calling  of  them  to  a 
flricl;  account.  But  while  their  terrors  were  raifed  to 
fuch  a  height,  and  they  flood,  as  we  may  fupi)orc, 
trembhng  and  aftonifhed  before  their  judge,  without 
any  thing  to  catch  hold  of,  whence  tliey  could  gather 
any  hope,  then  God  took  care  to  hold  Ibrth  fome  en- 
couragement to  them,  to  keep  them  from  the  dreadful 
effects  of  defpair  under  their  awakenings,  by  giving  a 
hint  of  a  dcfign  of  mercy  by  a  Saviour,  even  before  he 
pronounced  fentence  againit  them.  And  when  after 
this  he  proceeded  to  pronounce  fentence,  whereby  we 
may  fuppofe  their  terrors  were  further  railed,  God  foon 
after  took  care  to  encourage  them,  and  to  let  them  lee 
that  he  had  not  wholly  caft  them  off,  by  taking  a  fa-'' 
therly  care  of  them  in  their  fallen,  naked  and  mifer- 
able  liate,  by  making  them  coa^s  of  fkins,  and  cloath- 
ing  them.  Which  alfo  manifefled  an  acceptance  of 
thofe  facrifices  that  they  offered  to  God  for  (in,  that 
thofe  were  the  fl^ins  of,  which  were  types  of  what  God 
had  promifed  when  he  faid,  "  The  feed  of  the  woman 
■*'  fhall  bruife  the  ferpent's  head;"  which  promife, 
there  is  reafon  to  think,  they  believed  and  embraced. 
Eve  feems  plainly  to  exprefs  her  hope  in,  and  dependence 
on  that  promife,  in  what  flie  fa)'s  at  the  birth  of  Cain, 
Gen.  iv.  i.  "I  have  gotten  a  m,an  from  the  Lord ;"  i.  e. 
as  God  has  promifed,  that  my  feed  fhould  bruife  the 
ferpent's  head  ;  fo  now  has  God  given  me  this  pledge 
and  token  of  it,  that  I  have  a  feed  born.  She  plainly 
owns,  that  this  her  child  was  from  God,  and  hoped 
that  her  promifed  feed  was  to  be  of  this  her  eldeif  fon ; 
though  {l:ie  was  millaken,  as  Ahiahamw^s  witlirefpe6t 
to  IJlimad,  as  Jacob  was  with  refpecf  to  Efaa^  and  as 
Samuel  was  ^vith  refpe^^t  to  the  firll  born  of  J'JJe.  And 
efpecially  does  what  (he  faid  at  the  birdi  of  Serb,  ex- 
prefs her  hope^and  dependence  on  the  promife  of  God  ; 
fee  ver.  2j.  "  For  God  hath  appointed  me  another  feed 
*'  inllead  of  Abel,  whom  Cain  flew." 

Thus  it  is  exceeding  probable,  if  not  evident,  that  as 
Chrift  took  on  him  the  woik  of  mediator  as  foon  as 
man  fell ;  fo  that  he  no^v  immediately  began  his  work 
of  redem.ption  in  its  elTeft,  and  that  he  immediately 
encountered  his  great  enemy  the  De\al,  whom  he  had 
undertaken  to  conquer,  and  refcued  th.ofe  two  firlt 
D  3  capti\-es 


52  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  L 

captives  out  of  his  hands ;  therein  baffling  him,  foon 
after  his  triunjph  for  the  victory  he  had  obtained  over 
the:n,  whereby  he  had  made  them  his  captives.  And 
though  he  was,  as  it  were,  fure  of  them  and  all  their 
pofterity,  Chrift  the  Redeemer  foon  fliowed  him  that 
he  was  miftaken,  and  that  he  was  able  to  fubdue  him, 
and  deliver  fallen  man.  He  let  him  fee  it,  in  delivering 
thofe  firiL  captives  of  his ;  andfo  foon  gave  him  an  in- 
flance  of  the  fulfilment  of  that  threatning,  "  The 
"  feed  of  the  woman  fliall  bruife  the  ferpent's  head ;" 
and  in  this  inftance  a  prefage  of  the  fulfilment  of  one 
great  thing  he  had  undertaken,  viz.  his  fubduing  all 
his  enemies  under  his  feet. 

After  this  we  have  another  inftance  of  redemption 
in  one  of  their  children,  viz.  in  righteous  Abel,  as  the 
fcripture   calls    him,   whofe  foul  perhaps  M^as  the  firft 
that   went  to  heaven  through  Chrift's  redemption.    In 
hira  we  have  at  leaft  the  firlt  inftance  of  the  death  of  a 
redeemed  perfon  that  is  recorded  in  fcripture.  If  he  was 
the  firft,  then   as  the  redemption  of  Chrift  began  to 
dawn  before  in  the  fouls  of  men  in  their  converfion 
and  juftification,  in  him  it  firft  began  to  dav/n  in  glori- 
fication ;  and  in  him  the  Angels  began  firft  to  do  the 
part  of  miniftring   fpirits  to  Chrift,  in  going  forth  to 
condaft  the  fuuls  of  the  redeemed  to  glory.     And  in 
him  the  eleft  Angels  in  Heaven  had  the  firft  opportu- 
nity to  fee   fo  wonderful  a  thing  as  the  foul  of  one  of 
the  fallen  race  of  mankind,  that  had  been  funk  by  the 
fall  into  fuch  an  abyfs  of  fin  and  mifeiy,  brought  to 
Heaven,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  heavenly  glory,  which 
was   a  much  greater  thing  than  if  they  had  feen  him 
returned  to  the  earthly   Paradife.     Thus  they  by  this 
■;   faw  the  glorious  effe6t  of  Chrift's  redemption,  in   the 
great  honor  and  happinefs  that  was  procured  for  finful, 
miferable  creatures  by  it, 

V.  The  next  remarkable  tiling  that  God  did  in  the 
farther  carrying  on  of  this  great  aff'air  of  redemption, 
that  I  fhall  take  notice  of,  was  the  firft  remarkable 
pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  through  Chrift  that  ever  was, 
Vv'hich  was  in  the  days  of  Enos.  This  feems  to  have 
been  the  next  remarkable  thing  that  was  done  toward 
(Ere£ling  this  glorious  building  that  God  had  begun  and 
Jajd  t}ic  fpuiidation  of  in  Chrift  the  mediator.     We 

read, 


Fart  I.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       5^ 

read,  Gen.  iv.  26.  "  Then  began  men  to  call  upon  the 
"  name  of  the  Lord."     The  meaning  of  thefe  words 
has  been  confiderably  controverted  among  divines.  We 
cannot  fuppofe  the  meaning  is,  tliat  that  time  was  the 
firft   that  ever  men   performed   the   duty  of  prayer. 
Prayer  is  a   duty  of  natural  religion,  and   a  duty  to 
which  a  fpirit  of  piety   does  moil  naturally  lead  men^ 
prayer  is  as  it  were  the  very  breath  of  a  fpirit  of  piety ; 
and  we  cannot  fuppofe  therefore,  that  tliofe  holy  men 
that  had  been  before  for  above  two  hundred  years,  had 
lived  all  that  while  without  any  prayer.     Therefore 
fome  divines  think,  that  tlie  meaning  is,  that  then  men 
firft  began  to  perform  public  woifhip,  or  to  call  upon 
the  name  of  the  Lord  in  public  affemblies.     Whether  it 
be  fo  to  be  underftood  or  no,  yet  fo  much  muft  necef- 
farily  be  underftood  by  it,  viz.  that  tiiere  was  fom.e- 
jhing  new  in  the  vifible  church  of  God  with  refpeft  to 
the  duty  of  prayer,   or  calling   upon  the  name  of  the 
Lord ;  that  there  was  a  great  addition  to  the  perform- 
ance of  this  duty;  and  that  in  fome  refpe6i;  or  other  it 
was  carried  far  beyond  what  it  ever  had  been  before, 
which  muft  be  the  confequence  of  a  remarkable  pour- 
ing out  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 

If  it  was  now  firft  that  men  were  ftirred  up  to  get 
together  in  aflemblies  to  help  and  affift  one  another  in. 
feeking  God,  fo  as  they  never  had  done  before,  it  ar- 
gues fomething  extraordinary  as  the  caufe ;  and  could 
be  from  nothing  but  uncommon   influences  of  God's 
Spirit.  We  fee  by  experience,  that  a  remarkable  pour- 
ing out  of  God's  Spirit  is  always  attended  with  fuch  an 
effeft,  viz.  a  great  increafe  of  the  performance  of  the 
duty  of  prayer.     When    the   Spirit  of  God  begins  a 
work  on  mens  hearts,  it  imimediately  fets  them  to  call- 
ing on  the  name  of  the   Lord.     As  it   was  with   Paul 
after  the  Spirit  of  God  had  laid  hold  of  him,  then  the 
jnext  news  is,  "  Behold,  he  prayeth !"  fo  it  has  been  in 
all  remarkable  pourings  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  that 
we  have  any  particular  account  of  in  fcripture  ;  and  fo 
it  is  foretold  it  will  be  at  the  great  pouring  out    of  the 
Spirit  of  God  in  the  latter  days.     It  is  foretold,  that  it 
w^ill  be  poured  out  as  a  fpirit   of  grace  and   fupplica- 
tion,  Zech.  xii.  10.     See  alfo  Zeph.  iii.  9.  "For  then 
*-  will  I  turn  to  the  people  a  pure  language,  that  they 

?*  may 


,54  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  L 

•*'  may  all  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord,  to  fervc 
"  him  with  one  confent." 

And  when  itisfaid,  "  Then  vegan  men  to  callupoij 
*'  the  name  of  the  Lord,"  no  more  can  be  intended 
by  it,  than  that  this  was  the  firll  remarkable  feafon  of 
tliis  nature  that,ever  was.  It  was  the  beginning,  or  the 
firft,  of  fuch  a  kind  of  work  of  God,  fuch  a  pouring 
out  of  the  Spiril  of  God,  After  fuch  a  manner  fuch 
an  expreffionis  commojilyuiedin  fcriptuxe  ;  fo,  i  Sam. 
xiv.  35.  "  And  ^i2zJ built  an  altar  unto  the  Lord;  the 
*'  fame  'vvas  the  £rft  altar  that  he  built  unto  the 
"  Lord."  In  the  Hebrew  it  is,  as  you  may  fee  in  the 
margin,  "  that  altar  he  began  to  build  unto  the  Lord.'* 
Heb.  ii.  3.  "  How^  Ihall  we  efcape  if  we  negle6t  fo 
*'  great  falvation,  which  firft  began  to  be  fpoken  by  the 
"  Lo.d?" 

It  miay  here  be  obfcrved,  that  from  the  fall  of  man, 
to  this  day  wherein  we  live,  the  work  of  redemption  in 
its  effect  has  mainly  been  carried  on  by  remarkable 
pourings  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  Though  there  be 
a  more  conftant  influence  of  God's  Spirit  always  in 
fome  degree  attending  his  ordinances  ;  yet  the  way  in 
^vhich  the  greatefl  things  have  been  done  towards  carry- 
ing on  this  vv'ork,  always  has  bsen  by  remarkable  pour- 
ings out  of  the  Spirit  at  fpecial  feafons  of  mercy,  as 
may  fully  appear  hereafter  in  our  further  profecution  of 
the  fubjeft  we  are  upon.  And  this  pouring  out  of  the 
Spirit  in  the  days  of  Enos,  was  the  firll  remarkable 
pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  that  ever  ^vas.  There 
had  been  a  faving  work  of  God  on  the  hearts  of  fome 
before;  but  now  God  was  pleafed  to  grant  a  more 
large  effufion  of  his  Spirit,  for  the  bringing  in  an  bar- 
veil  of  fouls  to  Chrift ;  fo  that  in  this  we  fee  that  great 
building  that  is  the  fubjeft  of  our  prefent  difcourfe, 
which  God  laid  the  foundation  of  immediately  after 
the  fall  of  man,  caYried  on  further,  and  built  higher, 
than  ever  it  had  been  befoic. 

VI.  The  next  thing  I  fliall  take  notice  of,  is  the  emi- 
nently holy  life  of  Enoch,  who  we  liave  reafon  to  think 
was  a  faint  of  greater  eminency  than  any  ever  had  been 
before  him ;  fo  that  in  this  refperl:  the  work  of  re- 
demption w.js  carried  on  to  a  greater  height  than  ever 
it  had  been  before.     With  refpe^l  to  its  elfeQ  in  the  vi- 

fiblc 


fart  I.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       55 

fible  cliurcli  in  general,  we  obfervcd  juft  now  haw  it 
was  caniecl  higher  in  the  clays  oi  Euos  than  ever  it  had 
been  befoie.  Probably  Enoch  was  one  oithe  (aints  of 
that  harvell ;  for  he  lived  all  the  days  that  he  did  live 
on  earth,  in  the  days  of  Enas.  And  with  refpeft  to 
the  degree  10  which  this  work  was  carried  in  the  foul 
of  a  paiticular  perfon,  it  was  raifed  to  a  greater  height 
in  Enoch  than  e\er  before.  Plis  foul,  as  it  was  built 
on  Chriil,  was  built  up  in  holinefs  to  a  greater  height 
than  there  had  been  any  iniiance  of  before.  He  was  a. 
wonderful  inflance  of  Chrift's  redemption,  and  the  ef- 
ficacy of  his  grace. 

VH.  In  Enoch's  tiir.e,  God  did  more  exprefsly  reveal 
the  coming  of  Chrill  than  he  had  done  before,  in  the 
prophecy  of  Enoch  that  we  have  an  account  of  in  the 
J4diand  i^th  verfes  of  the  epiiUe  of  Jude  :  "  And  E- 
**  noch  alfo,  the  feventh  from  Adam,  piophefied  of 
*'  thefe^ faying.  Behold,  the  Lord  cometh  with  ten 
**■  thoiJpP  of  his  faints,  to  execute  judgment  upon 
*'  all,  arid  to  convince  all  that  are  ungodly  among 
*'  them,  of  dieir  ungodly  deeds  which  they  have  un- 
"  S^^h  committed,  and  of  all  their  hard  fpeeches 
''  which  ungodly  finners  have  fpoken  againft  him.'* 
Here  Enoch  prophefies  of  ^the  coming  of  Chrift.  It 
does  not  feem  to  be  confined  to  any  particular  coming 
of  Chiifl ;  but  it  has  refpe6f  in  general  to  ChrilPs  co- 
ming in  his  kingdom,  and  is  fulfilled  in  a  degree  in 
both  the  firft  and  fecond  coming  of  Chrilf ;  and  in- 
deed in  every  remarkable  manifelfation  Chrift  has  made 
of  himfelf  in  the  world,  for  the  faving  of  his  people, 
and  the  deflroying  of  his  enemies.  It  is  very  pa- 
rallel in  this  refpettwith  msreiy  other  prophecies  of  the 
coming  of  Chiift,  that  were  given  under  the  Old  Te-« 
{lament;  and,  in  particular,  it  feems  to  be  parallel 
with  that  great  prophecy  of  C brill's  coming  in  his 
kingdom  that  we  have  in  the  7th  chapter  of  Daniel, 
whence  the  Jews  principally  took  their  notion  of  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven.  See  ver.  10.  *'A  fiery  ftream  ifTued, 
*'  and  came  forth  from  before  Lim  :  thoufand  thou- 
*'  faiids  miniflred  unto  him,  and  ten  thoufand  times  ten 
*'  thoufand  Rood  before  him :  the  judgm.ent  was  fet, 
*'  and  the  books  w^ere  opened."  And  ver.  13.  14.  "  I 
*'  hw  ill  the  night-yifions,  and  behold,  one  like  the 

«'  foil 


56  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period 

"  fon  of  man,  came  with  the  clouds  of  Heaven,  and 
•'  came  to  the  ancient  of  days,  and  they  brought  him 
*'  near  before  him.  And  there  was  given  him  domi- 
"  nion,  and  glory,  and  a  kingdom,  that  all  people,  na- 
"  lions,  and  languages,  fnouid  ferve  him :  his  domi- 
"  nion  is  an  everlafting  dominion,  which  fnall  not  pafs 
"  away,  and  his  kingdom  that  which  fhall  not  be  de- 
*'  ftroycd."  And  though  it  is  not  unlikely  that  Enoch 
might  h^ive  a  more  immediate  refpeft  in  this  prophecy 
to  the  approaching  deftruftion  of  the  old  world  by  the 
flood,  which  was  a  remarkable  refemblance  of  Chrill's- 
deftruclion  of  all  his  enemies  at  his  fecond  coming,  yet 
it  doubtlefs  looked  be)'ond  the  type  to  the  antetype. 

And  as  this  prophecy  of  Chrilt's  coming  is  more  ex- 
prefs  than  any  had  been  before ;  fo  it  is  an  inftance  of 
the  increafe  of  that  gofpel-light  that  began  to,  dawn 
prefently  after  the  fall  of  man;  and  is  an  inft^ce  of 
that  building  that  is  the  fiibjecl  of  our  prefen^jfcourfe, 
being  yet  further  carried  on,  and  built  up  h^B|r  than 
it  had  been  before. 

And  here,'  by  the  way,  I  would  ob ferve,  that  the  in- 
creafe of  gofpel-light,  and  the  carrying  on  the  work  of 
redemption,  as  it  refpefts  the  ele6l  church  in  general, 
^*^from  the  firft  erefting  of  the  church  to  the  end  of  the 
world,  is  very  much  after  the  fame  manner  as  the  car- 
rying on  of  the  fame  work  and  the  fame  light  in  a- 
particular  foul,  from  the  time  of  its  converfion,  till  it 
is  perfected  and  crowned  in  glory.  The  work  in  a  par- 
ticular foul  has  its  ups  and  downs ;  fometimes  the 
light  fhines  brighter,  and  fometimes  it  is  a  dark  tim.e  ; 
fometimes  grace  feems  to  prevail,  at  other  times  *it 
feemiS  to  languifh  for  a  great  while  together,  and  cor- 
ruption prevails,  and  then  grace  revives  again.  But  in 
general,  grace  is  growing  :  from  its  firll  infufion,  till 
it  is  perfeftedin  glory,  the,  kingdom  of  Chrift  is  build- 
ing up  in  the  foul. 

So  it  is  with  refpeft  to  the  great  affair  in  general,  as 
it  relates  to  the  univeiTal  fubjeft  of  it,  as  it  is  carried 
on  from  the  firlf  beginning  of  it  after  the  fall,  till  it  is* 
perfetted  at  the  end  of  the  world,  as  will  more  fully 
appear  by  a  particular  view  of  this  affair  from  begin- 
ning to  end,  in  the  profecution  of  this  fubje61,  if  Go  I 
give  opportunity  to  carry  it  through  as  I  propofe. 

VIII.  The 


Part  I.        The  Work  of  REDEMPTION 


b1 


VIII.  The  next  remarkable  thing  towards  carrying 
on  this  work,  that  we  have  an  account  of  in  fcripture, 
is,  the  tranflation  of  Enoch  into  Heaven.  The  ac- 
count we  have  of  it  is  in  Gen.  v.  24.  "  And  Enoch 
•*  walked  with  God,  and  he  was  not;  for  God  took 
*'  him."  Here  Mofes,  in  giving  an  account  of  the  ge- 
nealogy of  thofe  that  were  of  the  line  of  Noah,  does  not 
fay  concerning  Enoch,  he  lived  fo  long  and  he  died,  as 
he  docs  of  the  reft;  but,7z^  xuas  not  for  God  took  him ; 
2.  c.  he  tranflated  him  ;  in  body  and  foul  carried  him  to 
Heaven  without  dying,  as  it  is  explained  in  Heb.  xi.  ,5. 
"  By  faith  Enoch  was  tranflated  that  he  fhould  not  fee 
*'  death."  By  this  wonderful  work  of  God,  the  work 
of  redemption  was  carried  to  a  greater  height  in  feve- 
ral  refpefts,  than  it  had  been  before. 

You  may  remember,  that  when  I  was  fliowing  what 
were  the  great  things  that  God  aimed  at  in  the  work 
of  jiljmption,    or  what  the  main   things  were  that 
he  l^Sided  to  bring  to  pafs ;  I  among  other  things 
mentioned    (p.  36.)    the   perfeft    reftoring   the    ruins 
of  the  fall  with  refpeft  to  the  ele6f,   and   reftoring 
man  from  that  deftruftion   that  he    had  brough^,.  on 
himfelf,  both  in  foul  and  body.     Now  this  traj^flation 
of  Enoch,  was  the  firft  inftance  that  ever  was   of  B- 
ftoring  the   ruins  of  the  fall  with  refpeft  to  the  body- 
There  had  been  many  inftances  of  reftoring  the  foul 
of  man  by  Chrift's  redemption,  but  none  of  redeeming 
and  aftually  faving  the  body  till  now.     All  the  bodies 
of  the  ele6f  are  to  be  faved  as  well  as  their  fouls.     At 
the  end  of  the  world,  all  the  bodies  of  the  faints  fhall 
aft ually  be  redeemed ;    thofe  that  then  fhall  have  beea 
dead,  by  a  refurreftion ;  and  others,  that  then  fhall  be 
hving,    by    caufmg   them   to   pafs  under   a*  glorious 
change.     There  was  a  number  of  the  bodies  of  faints 
raifed  and  glorified,  at  the  refurreftion  and  afcenfion 
of  Chrift;  and  before  that  there  was  an  inftance  of  a 
body  glorified  in  Elijah.     But  the  firft  inftance  of  all 
was  this  of  Enoch,  that  we  are  now  fpeaking  of. 

And  the  work  of  redemption  by  this  was  carried  on 
further  than  ever  it  had  been  before ;  as,  by  this  won- 
derful work  of  God,  there  was  a  great  increafe  of  go- 
fpel-light  to  the  church  of  God,  in  this  refpeft,  that 
E  hereby 


5§  AHISTORYof  Perioci  L 

hereby  the  church  had  a  clearer  manifeftation  of  a  i\u 
ture  Hate,  and  of  the  glorious  reward  of  the  faints  ii^ 
Pleaven.  We  are  told,  2  Tim.  i.  10.  "That  life  an(i 
*'  immortality  are  brought  to  li^^ht  by  the  gofpel."  And 
the  more  of  this  is  brought  to  lights  the  more  clearly 
does  the  light  fhine  in  that  refpeft.  What  was  faid 
in  the  OldTeftarrient  of  a  future  ftale,  is  ver)'  obfcure, 
in  col^lparifo^  with  the  more  full,  plain,  and  abundant 
re\'elation  given  of  it  in  the  New.  But  yet  even  in 
thofe  early  days,  the  church  of  God,  in  this  inftance, 
was  favoured  with  an  inftance  of  it  fet  before  theii* 
tiyes,  in- that  one  of  their  brethren  was  aftually  takeri 
lip  to  Heaven  without  dying;  which  we  have  all  reafoii 
to  think  the  church  of  God  knew  then,  as  they  after- 
wards knevv'  Elijah's  tranflatioo.  And  as  this  was  a 
clearer  maiiifeftation  of  a  future  ftate  than  the  church 
liad  had  before,  fo  it  v;as  a   pledge  or  earneil  of  that 


future  glorification  of  all  the  faints  which  God  intend- 
'  through  the  redemption  of  Jefus  Chrift.     flp' 
IX.  The  next  thing  that  1  fhall  obferve,  was  tne  up- 


holding the  church  of  God  in  the  family  of  v.diich 
Cliiiil:  ^v-as  to  proceed^  in  the  time  of  that  great  and 
general  d-efeftion  of  the  world  of  mankind  that  was 
bjgfore  tlie  flood.  The  church  of  God,  in  all  probabi- 
flt)%  was  fmall  in  comparifon  with  the  reft  of  the  world^ 
from  the  beginning  of  the  time  that  iTrankxind  firfl  be- 
gan to  multiply  on  the  i'dcc  of  the  eartli,  or  from  the 
time  of  Cains  defeftion,  and  departing  from  among  the 
people  of  God;  the  time  we  iead  of,  Gen.  iv.  ib, 
*'  When  Cain  went  out  fiom  the  prefence  of  the  Lord, 
*'  and  dwelt  in  the  land  of  Nod;"  M'hich  being  inter- 
preted, ^s  the  land  ofbanifhment :  I  fay,  from  this  time 
of  Cain's  departure  and  feparation  from  the  churcli  of 
God,  it  is  probable  that  the  church  of  God  was  fmati 
in  comparifon  with  the  reft  of  tlie  Avorld.  The  church 
feems  to  have_been  kept  up  cliiefiy  in  the  pofterity  of 
Serh  ;  for  this  was  the  feed  that  God  appointed  inftead 
of  A^el*  \vhom  Cain  flew.  But  we  cannot  reafonably 
fiippofe,  that  Setk's  poileiity  were  one  fifrieth  part  of 
the  world :  •'  For  Jdam  was  one  hundred  and  thirty 
•*  years  old  when  Sdk  ^'/as  born."  But  Cazn,  who 
feems  to  have  been  the  ringleader  of  thofe  that  were 
no:  of  the  church,  w^as  Adam'^  eldell  child,  and  pro- 
bably 


Part  I.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       5^ 

bably  was  born  foon  after  the  fall,  which  doubtlefs  v.-as 
foon  after  Adauis  creation  ;  fo  that  there  was  time  fur 
Cain  to  have  many  fons  before  Sctk  was  born,  and  be- 
fides  many  other  children,  that  probably  Adam  and  Eve 
had  before  this  time,  agieeably  to  God's  blcfnng  that 
he  gave  diem,  when  he  faid,  "  Be  fruitful,  and  multi- 
*'  ply,  and  replenilh  the  earth  :"  and  many  of  thefe 
children  might  have  children.  The  llory  of  CoSn  be- 
fore Setli  was  born,  feems  to  reprefent  as  though  there 
were  great  numbers  of  men  on  the  earth  :  Gen.  iv.  14, 
45.  "  Behold,  thou  haft  dri\x-n  me  out  this  day  from 
♦'  the  face  of  the  earth  ;  and  from  thy  face  fliall  1  be  hid, 
*'  and  \  (hall  be  a  fugitive  and  a  vagabond  in  the  earth; 
"  and  it  fhall  come  to  pafs,  that  every  one  that  find^ 
*'  eth  me  fhall  flay  me..  And  the  Lord  faid  unto  him, 
*'  Therefore  whofoever  flay  eth  Cain^  vengeance  fliall 
**  be  taken  on  him  feven-fold.  And  the  Lord  {cl 
*■'  a  M|irk  upon  Cainy  left  any  finding  hi:Ti  fhould. 
**  kiiniim."  And  all  thofe  that  were  then  in  being 
when  Scth  was  born^  muft  be  fuppcfed  then  to  ftand  in 
equal  capacity  of  multipl)'ing  their  poflerity  with  him ;, 
and  therefore,  as  I  faid  before,  Seth's  poilerity  w^cre 
}p\xt  a  fmall  part  of  the  inhabitant^ of  the  world.. 

But  after  the  days  of  Encs  and  Enoch  ffor  Enoch  was. 
tranflated  before  Enos  died)  I  fay,  after  their  days,  the 
church  of  God  greatly  diminiflied,  in  proportion  as. 
multitudes  that  \vere  of  the  line  of  Setk,  and  had  been 
born  irx  the  church  of  God,  fell  away,  and  joined  with 
the  wicked  world,  principally  by  means  of  intermar- 
riages with  them ;  as  Gen. vi.  1.  2,  &  4.  "Audit  came 
*'  to  pafs  when  meir  begaTi  to  multiply  on.  the  face  of 
*'  the  earth,  and  daughters  were  born,  unto  them,  that 
*'  the  fons  of  God  fav^  the  daughters  of  men,  that  they 
*'  were  fair ;  and  they  took  them  wivQs  of  all  which 

"  they  chofe. There  were  giants  in.  the  earth  in 

*'  thofe  days;  and  alfo  after  that,  when  the  fons  of 
*'  God  came  in  unto  the  daughters  of  men,  apd  they 
*'  bare  children  to  them,  the  fame  became  mighty  men, 
*'  which  were  of  old  men.  of  renown.'  'Qy  the  Jons  of 
God  here,  are  doubtlefs  meant  the  children  of  the 
church.  It  is  a  denomination  often  given  them  in 
fcripture.  They  intermarried  with  die  wicked  world, 
snd  fo  had.  their  hearts  led  away  frgiij  God ;  and  there 
E  a  \yaj» 


6o  A   HISTORY    of  Period  I. 

was  a  great  and  continual  defeftion  from  the  church. 
And  the  church  of  God,  that  ufed  to  be  a  reftraint  on 
the  wicked  world,  diminifhed  exceedingly,  and  fo  wick- 
ednefs  went  on  without  reftraint.  And  Satan,  that 
old  ferpent  the  devil,  that  tempted  our  firft  parents, 
and  fct  up  himfelf  as  God  of  this  world,  raged  ex- 
ceedingly ;  and  every  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of 
man's  heart  was  only  evil  continually,  and  the  earth 
M'as  filled  with  violence.  It  feemed  tp  be  deluged  with 
wickednefs  now,  as  it  was  with  water  afterwards ;  and 
mankind  in  general  were  drowned  ip  this  deluge ;  al- 
mofl  all  were  fwallowed  up  in  it.  And  now  Satan, 
made  a  moft  violent  and  potent  attempt  to  fwallow  up 
the  church  of  God  ;  and  had  almoft  done  it.  But  yet 
Ood  preferved  it  in  the  midft  of  all  this  flood  of  wick- 
ednefs and  violence.  He  kept  it  up  in  that  line  of  which 
Chrift  was  to  proceed.  He  would  not  fuffer  it  to  be 
cleltroyed,  for  a  bleffing  was  in  it.  The  Lord  dae  Re- 
deemer w'ds  m  this  branch  of  mankind,  and  was  after^ 
wards  to  proceed  from  it.  There  was  a  particular  fa- 
mily that  was  a  root  iri  which  the  great  Redeemer  of  th^ 
world  was,  and  whence  the  branch  of  righteoufnef^ 
was  afterwards  to  (hoot  forth.  And  therefore,  however 
the  branches  were  lopped  oft,  and  the  tree  feemed  to  be 
deftro\  ed ;  yet  God,  in  the  midft  of  all  this,  kept  alive 
this  root,  by  his  wonderful  redeeming  power  and  grace^, 
fo  that  the  gates  of  hell  could  not  prevail  againft  it. 

Thus  I  have  lliown  how  God  carried  on  the  great 
affair  of  redemption  ;  how  the  building  went  on  that 
God  began  after  the  fall,  during  this  firft  period  of  the 
times  of  the  Old  Teftament,  viz.  from  the  fail  of  man 
till  God  brought  the  flood  on  the  earth.  And  I  would 
take  notice  upon  it,  that  though  thehiftory  which  iV/<7~ 
Jes  gives  of  the  great  works  of  God  during  that  fpace 
be  very  fliort ;  yet  it  is  exceeding  comprehenfive  and 
inftru61ive.  And  it  may  alfo  be  profitable  for  us  here 
to  obferve  the  efficacy  of  that  purchafe  of  redemption 
that  had  fuch  great  effe^ls  even  in  the  old  world  fo 
many  ages  before  Chrift  appeared  himfelf  to  purchafe 
redemption,  that  his  blood  fhould  have  fuch  great  efli* 
cacy  fo  long  before  i^  was  fhed. 


;PART 


PART        II. 

From  the  Flood  to  the  calling  of  Abraham. 

I  PROCEED  now  to  Ihow  how  the  fame  work  was 
carried  on  through  the  Jecond  period  oi  the  Old 
•Teflanient,  ihdii  fro fn  the  beginning  of  the  flood  till  the. 
calling  of  Abraham  :  for  though  that  mighty,  overflow^ 
ing,  univerfal  deluge  of  waters  overthrew  the  world ; 
yet  it  did  not  overthrow  this  building  of  God,  the  work 
of  redemption.  But  this  went  on  yet ;  and  inflead  oi 
being  ovei-thrown,  continued  to  be  built  up,  and  v/a5 
.carried  on  to  a  further  preparation  for  the  great  Savi- 
our's coming  into  the  world,  and  working  out  redemp- 
tion for  his  people.     And  here, 

I.  The  flood  itfclf  was  a  work  of  God  that  belonged 
to  this  great  affair,  and  tended  to  promote  it.  All  the 
great  and  mighty  works  of  God  from  the  fall  of  man 
io  the  end  of  the  world,  are  reducible  to  this  work, 
and  if  feen  in  a  right  view  of  them,  will  appear  as 
parts  of  it,  and  fo  many  fteps  that  God  has  taken  in 
order  to  it,  or  as  carrying  it  on  ;  and  doubtlefs  fo 
great  awork,  fo  remarkable  and  univerfal  a  cataftrophe, 
as  the  deluge  was,  cannot  be  excepted.  It  was  a  work 
that  God  wrought  in  order  to  it,  as  thereby  God  re- 
moved out  of  the  way  the  enemies  and  obftacles  of  it, 
that  were  ready  to  overthrow  it. 

Satan  feems  to  have  been  in  a  dreadful  rage  juft  be- 
fore the  flood,  and  his  rage  then  doubtlefs  was,  as  it 
always  has  been,  chiefly  againft  the  church  of  God  to 
overthrow  it ;  and  he  had  filled  the  earth  with  violence 
^nd  rage  againfl;  it.  He  had  drawn  over  almoft  all  the 
world  to  be  on  his  fide,  and  they  lifted  under  his  ban- 
rer  againft  Chrift  and  his  church.  We  read  that  the 
(earth  "was  filled  with  violence  ;"  and  doubtlefs  that  vio- 
lence was  chiefly  againft  the  church,  in  fulfilment  of 
what  was  foretold,  twill  put  enmity  between  thy  feed  and 
her  feed.  And  their  enmity  and  violence  was  fo  great 
and  the  enemies  of  the  church  fo  numerous,  the  whole 
world  being  againft  the  church,  that  it  was  come  to 
jj^?  laft  extveriiity,  Noah's  reproofs,  and  his  preach- 
ing 


^3  A    II  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  L 

ing  of  righteoufnefs,  were  utterly  difregarded.  God's, 
fpirit  had  ftriven  with  them  an  hundred  and  twenty 
years,  and  all  in  vain  ;  and  the  church  was  almofl: 
iwallowed  up.  It  feems  to  have  been  reduced  to  fo  nar- 
ro^v  limits,  avS  to  be  confined  to  one  family.  And  there 
"ivas  no  profpeft  of  any  thing  elfe  but  of  their  totally 
fwallowing  up  the  churcli,  and  that  in  a  very  little 
time ;  and  fo  wholly  deftroying  that  fmall  root  that  had 
the  blefling  in  it,  or  whence  tlie  Redeemer  was  to  pro-* 
ceed. 

And  therefore,  God's  deftroying  thofe  enemies  of 
the  church  by  the  flood,  belongs  to  this  affair  of  re- 
demption :  for  it  ^vas  one  thing  that  was  done  in  fulfil-, 
ment  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  as  it  was  revealed  to 
Adam  :  "  I  will  put  enmity. betwpen  thee  and  the  wo- 
*'  man,  and  between  thy  feed  and  her  feed ;  it  fhali 
**  bruife  thy  head."  This  def}ru6tion  was  only  a  de- 
llruftion  of  the  feed  of  the  ferpent  in  the  midft  of  their 
moff  violent  rage  againif  the  feed  of  the  woman,  and 
fo  delivering  the  feed  of  the  woman  from  them,  whea 
in  utmoft  peril  by  them. 

We  read  of  fcarce  ai'iy  great  deflru61ion.  of  nations 
aiiy  where  in  Scripture,  but  that  one  main  reafon  given 
for  it  is,  their  enmity  and  injuries  againft  God's 
church  ;  and  doubtlefs  this  was  one  main  reafon  of  the 
deftruftion  of  all  nations  by  the  flood.  The  giants, 
that  were  in  thofe  days,  in  all  likelihood,  got  them- 
felves  their  renown  by  their  great  exploits  againfl  Hea- 
ven, and  againft  Chrift  and  his  church,  the  remaining 
fons  of  God  that  had  not  corrupted  themfelves. 

We  read,  that  jufl  before  the  world  Ihall  be  deilroy- 
ed  by  fire,  the  nations  that  are  in  the  four  quarters  of 
the  earth,  fliall  gather  together  againfl  the  church  as. 
the  fand  of  the  fea,  and  fhall  go  up  on  the  breadth  of 
the  earth,  and  compafs  the  camp  of  the  faints  about, 
and  the  beloved  city  ;  and  then  fire  fhall  come  down 
from  God  out  of  Heaven,  and  d,evour  them.  Rev.  xx, 
8.  9.  And  it  feems  as  though  there  was  that  which  was, 
very  parallel  to  it,  jufl  before  the  world  was  deflroyed 
by  water.  And  therefore  their  deftruftion  was  a  work 
of  God  that  did  as  much  belong  to  the  work  of  re^. 
demption,  as  the  deftruftion  of  the  Egyptians  belonged 
to  the  rede.mption  of  the  children  of  Ifiael  out  of  f^* 


t^artit.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     63 

gypt,  or  as  the  deflruflion  of  Sennacherib's  miglity  ar- 
my, tliat  liad  comjjafTed  about  Jerufalem  to  deflroy  it^ 
belonged  to  God's  redemption  of  that  city  from  thern. 

By  means  of  this  flood,  all  the  enemies  of  God'3 
church,  againjfl  vvhom  that  little  handful  had  no  ftrength, 
were  fAvept  off  at  once.  God  took  their  part,  and 
appeared  for  them  againft  their  enemies,  and  drowncl 
thofe  of  whom  they  had  been  afraid  in  the  flood  of 
water,  as  he  drowned  the  enemies  of  Ifrael  that  purfu- 
ed  them  in  the  Red  fca. 

Indeed  God  could  liave  taken  other  methods  to  deli- 
ver his  church  :  he  could  have  converted  all  the  world 
inllead  of  drowning  it;  and  fo  he  could  have  taken  an- 
other method  than  drowning  the  Egyptians  in  the  Red 
fea.  But  that  is  no  argum.ent,  that  the  method  that  he 
did  take,  was  not  a  miCthod  to  fhow  liis  redeeming 
mercy  to  them. 

By  the  wicked  world's  being  droAvned,  the  wicked, 
tlie  enemies  of  God's  people,  were  difpoffefled  of  the 
earth,  and  the  whole  earth  given  to  Noah  and  his  fa- 
mily to  poITefs  in  quiet  ;  as  God  inade  room  for  the 
Ifraelites  in  Canami,  by  calling  out  tlieir  enemies  from 
before  them.  And  God's  thus  taking  the  pofTeiTion  of 
the  enemies  of  the  church,  and  giving  it  all  to  his 
church,  was  agreeable  to  that  promife  of  the  covenant 
of  grace  :  Pfal.  xxxvii.  9. 10.  11.  "  For  evil  doers  fliail 
*'  be  cut  off :  but  thofe  that  wait  upon  the  Lord,  they 
*'  fliallinherit  the  earth.  For  )^et  a  little  while  and  the 
*'  Vvicked  fhall  not  be  :  yea,  thou  ffiall  diligently  confi- 
•'  der  his  place,  and  it  fhall  not  be.  But  the  meek 
*'  fliall  inherit  the  earth,  and  fliall  delight  themf elves 
"  in  the  abundance  of  peace." 

II.  Anotlier  thing  here  belongincr  to  the  fame  work^ 
v,'as  God's  fo  wonderfully  prcferving  that  family  of 
which  the  Redeemer  was  to  proceed,  wj:ienall  the  rell 
of  the  world  was  drowned.  God's  ''drowning  tlic 
\\'orld,  and  Oiving  Noah  and  his  fam.ilv,  both  were 
works  reducible  to  this  great  work,  'j'he  fa\-ing  Nook 
and  bis  family  belonged  to  it  t^vo  wavs.  As  that  fami- 
ly was  the  family  of  which  the  Redeemer  was  to  pro- 
ceed, and  as  that  family  was  the  cliurch  that  he  had 
redeemed,  it  was  them,  ^n'ca!  bodv  of  Chrift  tliat  \va.'? 
there  faved.     The  mduner  of  God"s  faving  thofe  per- 

ions, 


64  A   HISTORY   of  Period  IL 

fons,  when  all  the  world  befides  was  fo  overthrown, 
was  very  wonderful  and  remarkable.  It  was  a  wonder- 
ful and  remarkable  type  of  the  redemption  of  Chrift, 
of  that  redemption  that  is  fealed  by  the  baptifm  of  wa- 
ter, and  is  fo  fpoken  of  in  the  New  Teilament,  as  i  Pet. 
iii.  20.  2  1.  "  Which  fometime  were  difobedient,  when 
*^  once  the  long-fuffering  of  God  waited  in  the  days  of 
"  Noah,  while  the  ark  was  a  preparing,  wherein  few, 
''  that  is  eight  fouls,  were  faved  by  water.  The  like 
"  figure  whereunto,  even  baptifm,  doth  alfo  now  fave 
"  us,  (not  the  putting  away  of  the  filth  of  the  flelh, 
*'  but  the  anfwer  of  a  good  confcience  towards  God) 
«*  by  the  refurreftion  of  Jefus  Chrift."  That  water 
that  wafhed  away  the  filth  of  the  world,  that  cleared 
the  world  of  wicked  men,  was  a  type  of  the  blood  of 
Chrift,  that  takes  away  the  fin  of  the  world.  That 
water  that  delivered  Noah  and  his  fons  from  their  ene- 
mies, is  a  type  of  the  blood  that  delivers  God's  church 
from  their  fins,  their  word:  enemies.  That  water  that 
was  fo  plentiful  and  abundant,  that  it  filled  the  world, 
and  reached  above  the  tops  of  the  higheft  mountains. 
Was  a  type  of  that  blood,  the  fufficiency  of  which  is 
fo  abundant,  that  it  is  fufficient  for  the  whole  world ; 
fufficient  to  bury  the  higheft  mountains  of  fin.  The 
ark,  that  was  the  refuge  and  hiding-place  of  the  church 
in  this  time  of  ftorm  and  flood,  was  a  type  of  Chrift, 
the  true  hiding-place  of  the  church  from  the  ftorms  and 
floods  of  God's  wrath. 

III.  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve  is,  the  new 
grant  of  the  earth  God  made  to  Noah  and  his  family 
immediately  after  the  flood,  as  founded  on  the  cove- 
nant of  grace.  The  facrifice  of  Chrift  was  reprefented 
by  Noah's  building  an  altar  to  the  Lord,  and  offering  a 
facrifice  of  every  clean  beaft,  and  every  clean  fowl. 
And  we  have  an  account  of  God's  accepting  this  facri- 
fice :  and  thereupon  he  blefled  Noah,  and  eftabliflied 
his  covenant  vv'ith  him,  and  with  his  feed,  promifing 
to  deftroy  the  earth  in  like  manner  no  more  ;  fignify- 
mg  how  that  it  is  by  the  facrifice  of  Chrift  that  God's 
favour  is  obtained,  and  his  people  are  in  fafety  from 
God's  deftroying  judgments,  and  do  obtain  the  blef- 
ling  of  the  Lord.  And  God  now,  on  occafion  of  this 
Joah  ofTercd  to  God,  gives  him  and  hi& 

pofterity 


PartIL      The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.      65 

pofterity  a  new  grant  of  the  earth  ;  a  new  power  of  do- 
minion over  the  creatures,  as  founded  on  that  facrifice, 
and  fo  founded  on  the  covenant  of  grace.  And  fo  it  is 
to  be  looked  upon  as  a  diverfe  grant  from  that  which 
was  made  to  Adam,  that  we  have,  Gen.  i.  28.  "  And 
"  God  blefled  them,  and  God  faid  unto  them,  Be  fruit- 
"  ful,  and  muUiply,  and  replenifh  the  earth,  and  fub- 
*'  due  it ;  and  have  dominion  over  the  fifli  of  the  fea, 
*'  and  over  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and  over  every  living 
"  thing  that  moveth  upon  the  earth."  Which  grant 
was  not  founded  on  the  covenant  of  grace ;  for  it  was 
given  to  Adam  while  he  was  under  the  covenant  of 
works,  and  therefore  was  antiquated  when  that  cove- 
nant ceafed.  The  firft  grant  of  the  earth  to  Adam  was 
founded  on  the  firil  covenant ;  and  therefore,  when 
tliat  firft  covenant  was  broken,  the  right  conveyed  ta 
liim  by  that  firft  covenant  was  forfeited  and  loft.  And 
hence  it  came  to  pafs,  that  the  earth  was  taken  away 
from  mankind  by  the  flood  ;  for  the  firft  grant  was  for- 
feited ;  and  God  had  never  made  another  after  that,  till 
9fter  the  flood.  If  the  firft  covenant  had  not  been  bro- 
ken, God  never  would  have  drowned  the  world,  and  fo 
have  taken  it  away  from  mankind :  for  then  the  firlt 
grant  made  to  mankind  would  have  ftood  good.  But 
that  was  broken ;  and  fo  God,  after  a  while,  deftroyed 
the  earth,  when  the  wickednefs  of  man  was  great. 

But  after  the  flood,  on  Noah's  oflfering  a  facrifice  that 
reprefented  the  facrifice  of  Chrift,  God,  in  fmelling  a 
fweet  favour,  or  accepting  that  facrifice,  as  it  was  a  re- 
prefcntation  of  the  true  facrifice  of  Chrift,  which  is  a 
fweet  favour  indeed  to  God,  he  gives  Noah  a  new  grant 
of  the  earth,  founded  on  that  facrifice  of  Chrift,  or  that 
covenant  of  grace  which  is  by  that  facrifice  of  Chrift, 
with  a  promife  annexed,  that  now  the  earth  fhould  no 
more  be  deftroyed,  till  the  confummation of  all  things; 
as  you  may  fee  in  Gen.  viii.  20.  21.22.  and  chap.  ix.  1. 
2.  3.  7.  The  reafon  why  fuch  a  promife,  that  God 
would  no  more  deftroy  the  earth,  was  added  to  this 
grant  made  to  Noah,  and  not  to  that  made  to  Adam, 
was  becaufe  this  was  founded  on  the  covenant  of  grace, 
of  which  Chrift  was  the  furety,  and  therefore  could 
not  be  broken.  And  therefore  it  comes  to  pafs  now, 
that  though  the  wickednefs  of  man  has  dreadfully  raged, 
F 


66  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  L 

and  the  earth  has  been  filled  with  violence  and  wicked- 
nefs  thoufands  of  times,  and  one  age  after  another,  and 
iTiiich  more  dreadful  and  aggravated  wickednefs  than 
the  world  was  full  of  before  the  flood,  being  againft  fo 
much  greater  light  and  mercy ;  efpecially  in  thefe  days 
ofthegofpel:  yet  God's  patience  holds  outj  God 
does  not  deftroy  the  earth  ;  his  mercy  and  forbearance 
abides  according  to  his  promife  ;  and  his  grant  cftablifh- 
ed  with  Noah  and  his  fons  abides  firm  and  good,  being 
founded  on  the  covenant  of  grace. 

IV.  On  this  God  renews  with  Noah  and  his  fons  tlie 
covenant  of  grace,  Gen.  ix.  9.  10,  "And  I,  behold,  I 
*'  eftablifh  my  covenant  with  you,  and  with  your  feed 
*'  after  you,  and  with  every  living  creature  that  is  with 
"  you,"  &c.  which  was  the  covenant  of  grace  ;  which 
even  the  brute  creation  have  this  benefit  of,  that  it  fhall 
never  be  deftroyed  again  until  the  confummation  of  all 
things.  When  w^e  have  this  expreffion  in  fcripture,  ?ny 
covenant,  it  commonly  is  to  be  underflood  of  the  cove- 
nant of  grace.  The  manner  of  expreffion,  "  I  will  efta- 
"  blifli  mv  covenant  with  you,  and  with  your  feed  af- 
*'  ter  you,"  fliews  plainly,  that  it  was  a  covenant  alrea- 
dy in  being,  that  had  been  made  already,  and  that  No- 
ah would  underftand  '^vhat  covenant  it  was  by  that  de- 
nomination, viz.  the  covenant  of  ffrace. 

V.  God's  difappointingthe  defign  of  building  the  city 
and  to^\^er  of  Babel.  This  work  of  God  belongs  to  the 
great  work  of  redemption.  For  that  building  was  under- 
taken in  oppofition  to  this  great  building  of  God  that 
we  are  fpeaking  of.  Mens  going  about  to  build  fuch  a 
city  and  tower,  was  an  effe61;  of  the  corraption  that  man- 
kind were  now  foon  fallen  into.  This  city  and  tower 
was  fet  up  in  oppofition  to  the  city  of  God,  as  the  god 
that  they  built  it  to,  was  their  pride.  Being  funk  into  a 
difpofitiori  to  forfake  the  true  God,  the  firft  idol  they 
fet  up  in  his  room,  was  themfelves,  their  own  glory  and 
fame.  And  as  this  city  and  tower  had  their  foundation 
laid  in  the  pride  and  vanity  of  men,  and  the  haughtinefs 
of  their  minds,  fo  it  was  built  on  a  foundation  exceed- 
ingly contrary  to  the  nature  of  the  foundation  of  the 
kingdom  of  Chrift,  and  his  redeemed  city,  which  has 
its  foundation  laid  in  humility. 

llierefore  God  faw  that  it  tended  to  frullrate  the  dc- 


Part  II,      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      ^'j 

flgn  of  ihat  great  building  that  was  founded,  not  in  the 
haiightinefs  of  men,  but  Chriil's  blood  :  and  therefore 
the  thing  that  they  did  difpleafed  the  Lord,  and  he 
baffled  and  confounded  the  defign,  and  did  not  fuffer 
them  to  bring  it  to  perfe6lion  ;  as  God  will  frullrate 
and  confound  all  other  buildings,  that  are  fet  up  in  opr 
pofition  to  the  great  building  of  the  work  of  redemption. 

In  the  fecond  chapter  of  Ifaiah,  where  the  prophet 
is  foretelling  God's  fetting  up  the  kingdom  of  Chrillin 
the  world,  he  foretells  how  God  will,  in  order  to  it, 
bring  down  the  haughtincfs  of  men,  and  how  the  day 
of  the  Lord  fhall  be  on  every  high  tower ^  and  uppn  eve- 
ry fenced  wall  ^  &c.  Ghrift's  kingdom  is  eflablifiied,  by 
bringing  down  every  high  thing  to  make  way  for  i% 
2  Cor.  X.  4.  5.  "  Eor  the  weapons  of  our  \varfare  are 
*'  mighty  through  God  to  the  pulling  down  of  flrong 
*'  holds,  cafling  down  imaginations,  and  every  high 
*'  thing  that  exalteth  itfelf  againft  the  knowledge  of 
*'  God."  What  is  done  in  a  particular  foul,  to  make 
way  for  thcfettingupofChrifl's  kingdom,  is  to  dellroy 
Babel  in  that  foul. 

They  intended  to  have  built  Babel  up  to  Heaven.  That 
building  that  is  the  fubjeft  we  are  upon,  is  a  building 
that  is  intended  to  be  built  fo  high,  that  its  top  fhali 
reach  to  Heaven  indeed,  as  it  will  to  the  highelf  Hea- 
vens at  the  end  of  the  world,  when  it  fhall  be  finiflied  : 
and  therefore  God  would  not  fuiTer'the  building  of  his 
enemies,  that  they  defigned  to  build  up  to  Heaven  in 
oppofition  to  it,  to  profper.  If  they  had  gone  on  and 
profpered  in  building  that  city  and  tower,  it  might  have 
kept  the  world  of  wicked  men,  the  enemies  of  *the 
church,  together,  as  that  was  their  defign.  They  might 
have  remained  united  in  one  vafl:,  powerful  city ;  and 
fo  they  might  have  been  too  powerful  for  the  city  of 
God,  and  quite  fwallowed  it  up. 

This  city  of  Babel  is  the  fame  with  the  city  of  Baby- 
lon ;  for  Babylon  in  the  original  is  Babel.  ButBabylon 
was  a  city  that  is  always  fpoken  of  in  fcripture  as  chief- 
ly oppofite  to  the  city  of  God.  Babylon,  and  Jerufa- 
lem,  or  Zion,  are  oppofed  to  each  other  often  both  in 
the  Old  Teflament  and  New.  This  city  was  a  powerful 
and  terrible  enemy  to  the  city  of  God  afterwards,  not- 
withflanding  this  great  check  put  to  thebuildingofit  in 
Fa  th^ 


68  AHISTORYoF  Period  I. 

the  beginning.  But  it  might  have  been,  and  probably 
would  have  been  vaftly  more  powerful,  and  able  to  vex 
and  deftroy  the  church  of  God,  if  it  had  not  been  thus 
checked. 

Tiius  it  was  in  kindnefs  to  his  church  in  the  world, 
and  in  profecution  of  the  great  defign  of  redemption, 
that  God  put  a  fiop  to  the  building  of  the  city  and  tow- 
er of  Babel. 

VI.  The  difperfmg  of  the  nations,  and  dividing  the 
earth  among  its  inhabitants,  imm.ediately  after  God  had 
caufed  the  building  of  Babel  to  ceafe.  This  was  done 
fo  as  moft  to  fuit  that  great  defign  of  redemption.  And 
particularly,  God  therein  had  an  eye  to  the  future  pro- 
pagation of  the  gofpel  among  the  nations.  They  werefo 
placed,  the  bounds  of  their  habitation  fo  limited  round 
about  the  land  of  Canaan,  the  place  laid  out  for  the  ha- 
bitation of  God's  people,  as  moft  fuited  the  defign  of 
propagating  the  gofpel  among  them  :  Deut.  xxxii.  8. 
*'  When  the  Moft  High  divided  to  the  nations  their  in- 
**  beritance,  when  he  feparated  the  fons  of  Adam,  he 
V  fet  the  bounds  of  the  people  according  to  the  number 
*'  of  the  children  of  Ifrael."  A61s  xvii.  26.  27.  "  And 
•'  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men,  for  to 
*'  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  hath  deter- 
*'  mined  the  times  before  appointed,  and  the  bounds  of 
**  their  habitation  ;  that  they  (hould  feek  the  Lord,  if 
*'  haply  they  might  feel  after  him,  and  find  him."  The 
land  of  Canaan  was  the  moft  conveniently  fituated  of 
any  place  in  the  world  for  the  purpofe  of  fpreading  the 
light  of  the  gofpel  thence  among  the  nations  in  general. 
The  "inhabited  world  was  chielly  in  the  Roman  empire 
in  the  times  immediately  after  Chrift,  which  was  in  the 
countries  round  about  jerufalem,  and  fo  properly  fitua- 
ted for  the  purpofe  of  diffufing  the  light  of  the  gofpel 
among  them  from  that  place.  The  Devil  feeing  the  ad- 
vantage of  this  fituation  of  the  nations  for  promoting 
the  great  work  of  redemption,  and  the  difadvantage  of 
it  with  refpecl  to  the  interefts  of  his  kingdom,  afterward 
led  av/ay  many  nations  into  the  remoteft  parts  of  the 
world,  to  that  end,  to  get  them  out  of  the  way  of  the 
gofpel.  Thus  he  led  fome  into  America;  and  others 
into  northern  cold  regions,  that  are  almoft  inacceilible. 
VII.  Another  thing  1  would  mention  in  this  period, 

was 


Part  11.      The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION        69 

was  God's  prefei-ving  the  true  religion  in  the  line  of 
which  Chrill  was  to  proceed,  when  the  world  in  general 
apoflatized  to  idolatry,  and  the  church  were  in  immi- 
nent danger  of  being  fwallowed  up  in  the  general  cor- 
ruption. Although  God  had  lately  wrought  fo  won- 
derfully for  the  deliverance  of  his  church,  and  had 
fhewn  fo  great  mercy  towards  it,  as  for  its  fake  even  to 
deflroy  all  the  rcll  of  the  world ;  and  although  he  had 
lately  renewed  and  edablifhed  his  covenant  of  grace 
with  Noah  and  his  fons ;  yet  fo  prone  is  the  corrupt 
heart  of  man  to  depart  from  God,  and  to  fnik  into  the 
depths  of  wickednefs,  and  fo  prone  to  darknefs,  delu- 
fion,  and  idolatry,  that  the  world  foon  after  the  flood 
fell  into  grofs  idolatry ;  fq  that  before  Abraham  the 
diitemper  was  become  almoft  univerfal.  The  earth  was 
become  very  corrupt  at  the  time  of  the  building  of  Ba- 
bel ;  and  even  God's  people  themfelves,  even  that  line 
of  which  Chrift  was  to  come,  were  corrupted  in  a  mea- 
fure  with  idolatry :  Jolh.  xxiv.  2.  "  Your  fathers  dwelt 
*'  on  the  other  fide  of  the  flood  in  old  tim.e,  even  Te- 
*'  rah  the  father  of  Abraham,  and  the  father  of  Na- 
*'  hor;  2xidi  they  ferved  other  gods r  The  other  fide  of 
the  flood  means  beyond  the  river  Euphrates,  where  the 
anceftors  of  Abraham  lived. 

We  are  not  to  underlland,  that  they  were  wholly 
drawn  off  to  idolatrv,  to  forfake  the  true  God.  For  God 
is  faid  to  be  the  God  of  Nahor:  Gen.  xxxi.  ^3.  "The; 
'-'  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God  of  Nahor,  the  God 
*'  of  tkeir  father^  j'-^^g^^  betwixt  us."  But  they  on- 
ly partook  in  fome  meafure  of  the  general  and  almofl 
univerfal  corruption  of  the  times ;  as  Solomon  was  in 
a  meafure  infefted  with  idolatrous  corruption ;  and  as 
the  children  of  Ifrael  in  Egypt  are  faid  to  ferve  other 
gods,  though  yet  there  was  the  true  church  of  God  a- 
niong  them ;  and  as  there  were  images  kept  for  a  con- 
fiderable  time  in  the  family  of  Jacob  ;  the  corruption 
being  brought  from  Padan-Aram,  whence  he  fetched 
his  wives. 

This  was  the  fecond  time  that  the  church  was  al- 
mofl brought  to  nothing  by  the  corruption  and  general 
dcfeftion  of  the  ^vorld  from  true  religion.  But  Itill  the 
true  religion  was  kept  up  in  the  family  of  which  Chriff 
v/as  to  proceed.     Which  is  another  inffance  of  God's 

remarkably 


7?>  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   GF  Period  L 

remarkably  preferving  his  church  in  a  time  of  a  general 
deluge  of  wickednefs ;  and  wherein,  although  the  god 
of  this  world  raged,  and  had  almoft  fwallowed  up  God's 
church,  yet  God  did  not  fuffer  the  gates  of  hell  to  pre,^ 
vail  againit  it. 


PART        III. 

Fro?}i  ike   calling  of  Abraham  to  Mofes. 

I  PROCEED  nowtofhowhow  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion was  carried  on  through  the  third  period  of  the 
times  of  the  Old  Teftament,  beginning  with  the  call- 
ing of  Abraham,  and  extending  to  Mofs.     And  here, 

I.  It  pleafed  God  now  to  fcparate  that  perfon  of  whom 
Chriftwas  to  come,  from  the  reft  of  the  world,  that  his 
church  might  be  upheld  in  his  family  and  pofterity  till 
Chrift  fliould  come  ;  as  he  did  in  calling  Abraham  out 
of  his  own  country,  and  from  his  kindred,  to  go  into  a 
diflant  country,  that  God  fhouldfliow  him,  and  bring- 
ing him  firft  out  of  Ur  of  the  Chaldees  to  Charran,  and 
then  to   the  land  of  Canaan. 

It  was  before  obferved,  that  the  corruption  of  the 
world  with  idplatiy  was  now  become  general ;  mankind 
were  almoft  wholly  over-run  with  idolatry :  God  there- 
fore law  it  necefTary,  in  order  to  uphold  true  religion  in 
the  world,  that  there  (hould  be  a  family  feparated  from 
the  reft  of  the  world.  It  proved  to  be  high  time  to  take 
this  courfe,  left  the  chuixh  of  Chrift  Ihould  wholly  be 
carried  away  with  the  apoftacy.  For  the  church  of  God 
itfelf,  that  had  been  upheld  in  the  line  of  Abraham's  an- 
ceftors,  was  already  confidcrably  corrupted.  Abraham's 
o^vn  country  and  kindred  had  moft  of  them  fallen  off"; 
and  without  fome  extraordinaiy  intei^pofition  of  Provi- 
dence, in  all  likelihood,  in  a  generation  or  two  more, 
the  true  religion  in  this  line  would  have  been  extinft. 
And  therefore  God  faw  it  to  be  time  to  call  Abraham, 
the  perfon  in  whofe  family  he  intended  to  uphold  the 
true  religion,  out  of  his  own  country,  and  from  his  kin- 
dred, to  a  far  diftant  country,  that  his  pofterity  might 
there  remain  a  people  feparate  from  all  the  reft  of  the 
world  ;  tliat  fo  the  true  religion  might  be  upheld  thertf, 

while 


Part  III.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    71 

while  all  mankind  bcficlcs  were  fwallowed  up  in  Hca- 
thenifm. 

The  land  of  the  Chaldees,  that  Abraham  was  called 
to  go  out  of,  was  the  country  about  Babel;  Babel,  or 
Babylon,  was  the  chief  city  of  the  land  of  Chaldea. 
Learned  men  fuppofe,  by  what  they  garher  from  fome  of 
the  moll  ancient  accounts  of  things,  that  it  was  in  this 
land  that  idolatry  firft  began ;  that  Babel  and  Chaldea 
were  the  original  and  chief  feat  of  the  worfhip  of  idols, 
whence  it  fpread  into  other  nations.  And  therefore 
the  land  of  the  Chaldeans,  or  the  country  of  Babylon,  is 
in  fcripture  called  the  land  of  graven  images  ;  as  yoii 
may  fee  Jer.  1.  35.  together  with  ver.  38.  "A  Avord 
*'  is  upon  the  Chaldeans,  faith  the  Lord,  and  upon  the 
*'  inhabitants  of  Babylon,  antl  upon  her  princes,  and 
*'  upon  her  wife  men. — A  drought  is  upon  her  waters, 
*'  and  they  (hall  be  dried  up ;  for  it  is  the  land  of  gra- 
*'  ven  images,  and  they  are  mad  upon  their  idols.'* 
God  calls  Abraham  out  of  this  idolatrous  country,  to  a 
great  diilance  from  it.  And  when  he  came  there,  he 
gave  him  no  inheritance  in  it,  no  not  fo  much  as  to  fet 
his  foot  on ;  but  he  remained  a  flranger  and  a  fojourn- 
cr,  that  him  and  his  family  might  be  kept  feparate  from 
all  the  world. 

This  was  a  new  thing  :  God  had  never  taken  fuch  a 
method  before.  His  church  had  not  in  this  manner 
been  feparated  from  the  reft  of  the  wori'd  til!  now  ;  but 
were  wont  to  dwell  with  them,without  aiybar  or  fence 
to  keep  them  feparate  ;  the  mifchievouj  confequences 
of  which  had  been  found  once  and  again.  The  efFeft 
before  the  flood  of  God's  people  living  intermingled 
with  the  wicked  world,  without  any  remarkable  wall  of 
reparation,  was,  that  the  fons  of  the  church  joined  in 
marriage  with  others,  and  thereby  almoft  all  foon  be- 
came infefted,  and  the  church  was  almoft  brought  to 
nothing.  The  method  that  God  took  then  to  fence  the 
church  was,  to  drown  the  wicked  world,  and  fave  the 
church  in  the  ark.  And  now  the  world,  before  Abra- 
ham was  called,  was  become  corrupt  again.  But  now 
God  took  another  method.  He  did  not  deftroy  the 
wicked  world,  and  fave  Abraham,  and  his  wife,  and  Lof^ 
•  in  an  ark ;  but  he  calls  thefe  perfons  to  go  and  liv<e  (e^ 
parate  from  the  reft  of  the  world 

Tkl^ 


72  A  HISTORY    OF  Period  I. 

This  was  a  nc\Nr  thing,  and  a  great  thing,  that  God 
did  toward  the  work  of  redemption.  This  thing  was 
done  now  ahout  the  middle  of  the  fpaceof  tiine  between 
the  fall  of  man  and  the  coming  of  Chrill ;  and  there 
were  about  tw^o  thoufand  years  yet  to  come  before 
Chrift  the  great  Redeemer  was  to  come.  But  by  this 
calling  of  Abraham,  the  anceftor  of  Chrill,  a  founda- 
tion was  laid  for  the  upholding  the  church  of  Chrift 
in  the  T\^orld,  till  Chrift  fhould  come.  For  the  world 
having  becom.e  idolatrous,  there  was  a  necefiity  that  the 
feed  of  the  woman  fliould  be  thus  feparated  from  the 
idolatrous  world  in  order  to  that. 

And  then  it  was  needful  that  there  fiiould  be  a  par-, 
ticular  nation  feparated  from  the  reft  of  the  world,  to 
receive  the  types  and  prophecies  that  were  needful  to  be 
given  of  Chrift,  to  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming;  that 
to  them  might  be  committed  the  oracles  of  God ;  and 
that  by  them  the  hiftory  of  God's  great  works  of  crea- 
tion and  providence  might  be  upheld ;  and  that  fo 
Chrift  might  be  born  of  this  nation ;  and  that  from 
hence  the  light  of  the  gofpel  might  fhine  forth  to  the 
reft  of  the  world.  Thefe  ends  could  not  well  be  ob- 
tained, if  God's  people,  through  all  thefe  two  thoufand 
years,  had  lived  intermixed  ^vith  the  heathen  world.  So 
that  this  calling  of  Abraham  may  be  looked  upon  as  a 
kind  of  a  new  foundation  laid  for  the  vifible  church  of 
God,  in  a  more  diftinft  and  regular  ftate,  to  be  upheld 
and  built  up  on  this  foundation  from  henceforward,  till 
Chrift  fhould  aftually  come,  and  then  through  him  to 
be  propagated  to  all  nations.  So  that  Abraham  being 
the  perfon  in  whom  this  foundation  is  laid,  is  reprefent- 
ed  in  fcripture  as  though  he  w^ere  the  fadier  of  all  the 
church,  the  father  of  all  them  that  believe  ;  as  it  were  a 
root  whence  the  vifible  church  thenceforward  through 
Chrift,  Abraham's  root  and  offspring,  rofe  as  a  tree,  dif- 
tinft  from  all  other  plants;  of  which  tree  Chrift  was 
the  branch  of  righteoufnefs ;  and  from  which  tree,  af- 
ter Chrift  came  the  natural  branches  v/ere  broken  off 
and  the  Gentiles  were  grafted  into  the  fame  tree.  So 
that  Abraham  ftill  remains  the  father  of  the  church,  or 
root  of  the  tree,  through  Chrift  his  feed.  It  is  the  fame 
tree  that  flouriflies  from  that  fmall  beginning,  that  was^ 
in  Abraham's  time,  and  has  in  thefe  days  of  the  gofpel 

fpread 


part  III.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      73 

fpread  its  branches  over  a  great  part  of  the  earth*  and 
will  fill  the  whole  earth  in  clue  time,  and  at  the  end  of 
the  world  (hall  be  tranfplanted  from  an  earthly  foil  into 
the  Paradjfe  of  God. 

II.  71iere  accompanied  this  a  more  particular  and  full 
revelation  and  confirmation  of  the  covenant  of  grace 
than  ever  had  been  before.  There  had  before  this 
been,  as  it  were,  two  particular  and  folemn  editions  or 
confirmations  of  this  covenant ;  one  at  the  begirming  of 
the  firft  period,  which  was  that  whereby  the  covenant 
of  grace  was  revealed  to  our  firft  parents,  foon  after  the 
fall ;  the  other  at  the  beginning  of  the  fecond  period, 
whereby  God  folcmnly  renewed  the  covenant  of  grace 
with  Noah  and  his  family  foon  after  the  flood  :  and 
now  there  is  a  third,  at  the  beginning  of  the  third  pe- 
riod, at  and  after  the  calling  of  Abraham.  And  it  now 
being  much  nearer  the  time  of  the  coming  of  Chrift 
than  when  the  covenant  of  grace  was  firfl  revealed,  it 
being,  as  was  faid  before,  about  half  way  between  the 
fall  and  the  coming  of  Chrifl,  the  revelation  of  the  co- 
venant now  was  much  more  full  than  any  that  had  been 
before.  The  covenant  was  now  more  particularly  re- 
vealed. It  was  now  revealed,  not  only  that  Chrifl  fhould 
be  ;  but  it  was  revealed  to  Abraham,  that  he  fhould  be 
his  feed  ;  and  it  was  nowpromifed,  that  all  the  families 
of  the  earth  fhould  be  bleffed  in  him.  And  God  was 
much  in  the  promifes  of  this  to  Abraham.  The  firft 
promife  was  when  he  firfl  called  him,  Gen.  xii,  2, 
**  And  I  will  make  of  thee  a  great  nation,  and  I  will 
**  blefs  thee,  and  make  thy  name  great ;  and  thou  flialt 
**  be  a  blefling."  And  again  the  fame  promife  was 
renewed  after  he  came  into  the  land  of  Canaan,  chap, 
xiii.  14.  &c.  And  the  covenant  was  again  renewed  af- 
ter Abraham  had  returned  from  the  flaughter  of  the 
Kings,  chap.  xv.  5.  6.  And  again,  after  his  offering  up 
Ifaac,  chap.  xxii.   16.  17.  18. 

In  this  renewal  of  the  covenant  of  grace  with  Abra- 
ham, feveral  particulars  concerning  that  covenatit  -were 
revealed  more  fully  than  ever  had  been  before  ;  not  on- 
ly that  Chrifl  was  to  be  of  Abraham's  feed,  but  alfo  the 
calling  of  the  Gentiles,  and  the  bringing  all  nations  into 
the  church,  that  all  the  families  of  the  earth  were  to  be 
bleffed,  was  now  made  known.  And  then  the  great  con* 
G  dition 


74 


A   HISTORY    OF  Period  I. 


dition  of  the  covenant  or  grace,  wlilch  is  faith,  \v'as  now 
more  fully  made  known.  Gen.  xv.  5.  6.  "And  hefaid 
*'  unto  him,  fo  fliall  thy  feed  be.  And  Abraham  be- 
"  hevcd  God,  and  it  was  counted  unto  him  for  rightc- 
*'  oufnefs."  Which  is  much  taken  notice  of  in  the 
New  Tel!ament,  as  that  whence  Abraham  was  called 
the  father  of  them  that  believe. 

And  as  there  was  now  a  further  revelation  of  the  co- 
venant of  grace,  fo  there  was  a  further  confirmation  of 
k  by  feals  and  pledges,  than  ever  had  been  before  ;  ag 
particularly,  God  did  now  inllitute  a  certain  facramcnt, 
to  be  a  fleady  feal  of  this  covenant  in  the  vifible  church- 
till  Chrift  fiioiild  come,  viz.  circumcifion,  Circumci- 
fion  was  a  feal  of  this  covenant  of  grace,  as  appears  by 
the  firft  inllitution,  as  we  have  an  account  of  it  in  the 
17th  chapter  of  Genefis.  It  there  appears  to  be  a  feal 
^f  that  covenant  by  which  God  promifed  to  make  Abra- 
ham a  fatlier  of  many  nations,  as  appears  by  the  5th  verfe 
compared  with  the  9th  and  10th  verfes.  And  we  are 
cxprefsly  taught  that  it  was  a  feal  of  the  righteoufnefs- 
©f  fai^h,  Rom.  iv.  11.  Speaking  of  Abraham,  the  A- 
poftle  fays,  '^  He  received  the  fign  of  circumcirion,  a 
*'  feal  of  the  righteoufnefs  of  faith.'"' 

As  I  obfcrved  before,  God  called  Abraham,  that  his 
family  and  poflerity  might  be  kept  feparate  from  the  rell 
of  the  world,  till  Chrift  fhould  come,  which  God  fay/ 
to  be  neceiTary  on  the  forem.entioned  accounts.  And 
this  facrament  was  the  principal  wall  of  feparatlon  ;  it 
chiefly  diflinguidied  Abraham's  feed  from  the  world, 
and  kept  up  a  diflintlion  and  feparation  more  than  any 
other  particular  obfervance  whatfoever. 

And  befides  this,  there  were  other  occafional  feals, 
pledges,  and  confirmations,  that  Abraham  had  of  this 
covenant;  as,  particularly,  God  gave  Abraham  a  re- 
markable pledge  of  the  fulfilment  of  the  promife  he  had 
iTiade  hlm,^  in  his  vi^lory  aver  Chedorlaomer  and  ib.e 
kings  that  were  with  him.  Chedorlaomer  feemiS  to  have 
been  a  great  emperor,  that  reigned  over  a  great  part  of 
the  world  at  that  day;  and  though  he  had  his  feat  at 
I'Llam.,  which  was  not  much  if  any  thing  fhort  of  a  thou- 
.fand  miles  dillant  from  the  land  of  Canaan,  yet  he  ex- 
tended his  cm.pirc  fo  as  to  reign  over  many  parts  of  the 
land  of  Canaan,  as  appears  by  chap,  xiv,  4.  ^.  6.  7.   It 

is. 


fcirtlll.    The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.     7^ 

is  fappoled  by  learned  men,  tliat  he  was  a  king  of  ihe  Af- 
fyriaii  empire  at  that  day,  which  had  been  before  begun 
by  Ninu-od  at   BabeL     And  as   it   was  the  honor  of 
kings  in  thofe  da)'s  to  build  new  cities  to  be  made  the  feat 
of  their  empire,  as  appears  by  Gen.  x.  10. 1 1. 12.  fo  it  is 
conjeftured,  that  he  had  gone  forth  and  buiU  him  a  city 
in  Elam,  and  made  that  his  feat ;   and  that  thofe  other 
kings,  who  came  with  him,  were  his  deputies  in  the  fe- 
veral  cities  and  countries  where  they  reigned.    But  yet 
as  miglity  an  empire  as  he  liad,  and  as  great  an  army  as 
he  now  came  with  into  the  land  where  Abraham  was, 
yet  Abraham,  only  witli  his  trained  fervants,  that  ^vere 
born  in  his  own  houfe,  conquered,  fuhdued  and  baffled 
this  mighty  emperor  and  the  kings  that  came  with  him, 
and  all  their  army.  This  he  received  of  God  as  a  pledge 
of  what  he  had  promifed,  viz.  the  vi6fory  that  Chriil 
his  leed  fhould  obtain  over  the  nations  of  the  earth, 
whereby  he  Ihould  polfefs  the  gates  of  his  enemies.   It 
is  plainly  fpoken  of  as  fuch  in  the  41ft  of  Ifaiah.     In 
that  chapter  is  foretold  the  future  glorious  vi8oiy  the 
church  Ihall  obtain  over  the  nations  of  the  world  ;  a*? 
you  may  fee  in  the  ill,  10th  and  i^th  verfes,  &c.  Bi.t 
here  this  viftory  of  Abraham  over  fuch  a  great  emperor 
and  his  mighty  forces,  is  fpoken  of  as  a  pledge  and  ear- 
ned of  this  vicfory  of  the  church,  as  you  m.ay  fee  iii 
2d  and  3d  verfes.  "  Who  raifed  up  the  righteous  man 
"  from  the  eaft,  called  him  to  his  foot,  gave  the  nations 
''  before  him,  and  made  him  rule  over  kings  ?  He  gave 
**  them  as  the  duft  to  his  fword,  and  as  driven   ftubble 
*'  to  his  bow.     He  purfued   them,  and  pafTed  fafely ; 
*'  even  by  the  way  that  he  had  not  gone  with  his  feet." 
Another  reinarkable  confirmation  Abraham  received 
of  the  covenant  of  grace,  war,  when  he  returned  from 
the  ilaughter  of  the  kings ;  ^vhen  Melchifedec  the  king 
of  Salem,  the  prieft  of  the  moft  high  God,  that  great 
t)'pe  of  Chrifl,  met  him,  and  blefied  him,  and  brought 
Ibrth  bread  and  wine.  The  bread  and  win<^  fignified  tlie 
fame  bleiliiigs  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  that  the  bread 
and  wine  d' -es  in  the  facrament  of  the  Lord's  fupper. 
So  that  as  Abraham  had  a  feal  of  the  covenant  in  cir- 
cumcifion  that  was  equivalent  to  baptifm,  fo  now  he: 
h  id  a  feal  of  it  equivalent  to    the  Lord's  fupper.    And. 
Melchifcdcc's  coming  to  meet  him  ^vi■ll  fuch  a  feal  of 
G  a-  tha 


y6  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y,   OF  Period  1. 

the  covenant  of  grace,  on  the  occafion  of  this  viftory  of 
iiis  over  the  kings  of  the  north,  confirms  that  that  viftory 
was  a  ple(^ge  of  God's  falfih-nent  of  the  fame  covenant; 
for  that  is  the  mercy  that  Melchifedec  with  his  bread 
and  wine  takes  notice  of;  as  you  may  fee  by  what  he 
fays  in  Gen.  xiv.  15.  20. 

Another  confirmation  that  God  gave  Abraham  of 
the  covenant  of  grace,  was  tlie  vifion  that  he  had  in  the 
deep  fleep  that  leil  upon  him,  of  the  fmoking  furnace 
and  burning  lamp,  that  pafTed  between  the  parts  of  the 
facrifice,  as  in  the  latter  part  of  the  15th  chapter  of  Ge- 
nefis.  The  facrifice,  as  all  facrifices  do,  fignified  the 
facrifire  of  Chrill.  The  fmoking  furnace  that  paffed 
thiough  the  midil  of  that  facrifice  firft,  fignified  the  fuf- 
ferings  of  Chriff.  But  the  burning  lamp  that  followed, 
which  fhone  with  a  clear  bright  light,  fignifies  the  glory 
that  followed  Chnft's  fuffeiings,  and  was  procured  by 
thera. 

Anotiier  remarkable  pledge  that  God  gave  Abraham 
of  the  fulfilment  of  tlie  covenant  of  grace,  was  his  giv- 
ing of  the  child  of  whom  Chrifl  was  to  come,  in  his 
old  age.  This  is  fpoken  of  as  fuch  in  fcripture  ;  Heb. 
:xi.  11!,  12.' and  alfo  Rom.  iv.  18.  &c. 

Again,  another  j-emarkable  pledge  that  God  gave  A- 
braham  of  the  fulfilment  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  was 
his  delivering  Ifaac,  after  he  was  laid  upon  the  wood  of 
the  facrifice  to  be  flain.  This  was  a  confirmation  ofA- 
braham's  faith  in  the  promife  that  God  had  made  of 
Chrifi,  that  he  fliould  be  of  Ifaac's  pofferity ;  and  was  a 
reprefentation  of  the  refurreciion  of  Chrifi;  as  you  may 
fee,  Heb.  xi.  17.  18.  19,  And  becaufe  this  was  given 
as  a  confirraation  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  therefore 
God  renewed  that  covenant  with  Abraham  on  this  oc- 
cafion, as  you  may  fee,  Gen.  xxiv.  1^.  Sec, 

Thus  you  fee  hovv  much  more  fully  the  covenant  of 
grace  was  revealed  and  confirmed  in  Abraham's  time 
than  ever  it  had  been  before ;  by  means  of  which  Abra- 
ham feems  to  have  had  a  more  clear  underflanding  and 
f:ght  of  Chiift  the  great  Redeemer,  and  the  future 
things  that  were  to  be  accompliflied  by  him,  than  any  of 
the  faints  that  had  gone  before.  And  therefore  Chrifi 
takes  notice  of  it,  that  Abraham  rejoiced  to  fee  his  day 
and  he  faw  it,  and  was  glad,  John  viii.  56.    So  great 

.  an 


Part  III.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION      -^'j 

an  advance  did  it  pleafc  God  now  to  make  in  this 
building,  which  he  had  been  carrying  on  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  world. 

III.  The  next  thing  that  I  would  take  notice  of  here, 
is  God's  preferving  the  patriarchs  for  fo  long  a  time  in 
the  midfl:  of  the  wicked  inhabitants  of  Canaan,  and  from 
all  other  enemies.  The  patriarchs  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and 
Jacob,  were  thofe  of  whom  Chrift  was  to  proceed  ;  and 
they  were  now  feparated  from  the  world,  that  in  them 
his  church  might  be  upheld.  Therefore,  in  preferving 
them,  the  great  defign  of  redemption  was  upheld  and 
carried  on.  He  preserved  them,  and  kept  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  land  where  they  fojourned  from  deftroying 
them ;  which  v/as  a  remarkable  difpenfatioii  of  provi- 
dence. For  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  were  at  that  day 
exceedingly  wicked,  though  they  grew  more  wicked  at- 
terwards.  This  appears  by  Gen.xv.  16.  "  In  the  fourth 
"  generation  they  fliall  come  hither  again ;  for  the 
*'  iniquity  of  the  Canaanites  is  not  yet  full:"  As  much 
as  to  fay,  Though  it  be  very  great,  yet  it  is  not  yet  full. 
And  their  great  wickednefs  alfo  appears  by  Abraham 
an.d  Ifaac's  averfion  to  their  children  marrying  any  of 
the  daughters  of  the  land.  Abraham,  wdren  he  was 
old,  could  not  be  content  till  he  had  made  his  fervant 
fwear  that  he  would  not  take  a  wife  for  his  foh  of  the 
daughters  of  the  land.  And  Ifaac  and  Rebecca  were 
content  to  fend  away  Jacob  to  fo  great  a  diftance  as 
Padan-Aram,  to  take  him  a  wife  thence.  And  when 
Efau  married  fome  of  the  daughters  of  the  land,  v»^e  arc 
told,  that  they  were  a  grief  of  mind  to  Ifaac  and  Re- 
becca. 

Another  argument  of  their  great  wickednefs,  was  the 
inftances  we  have  in  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  Admah 
and  Zcboim,  which  were  fome  of  the  cities  of  Canaan 
though  they  were  probably  diftinguifhingly.  wicked. 

And  they  being  thus  wicked,  were  likely  to  have  the 
moll  bitter  enmity  againft  thefe  holy  men  ;  agreeable  to 
\A\dX  was  declared  at  firft,  "  I  will  put  enmity  between 
*'  thee  and  the  woman,  and  between  thy  feed  and  her 
*'  feed."  Their  holy  lives  were  a  continual  condemna- 
tion of  their  wickednefs.  And  befides,  it  could  not  be 
otherwife,  but  that  they  mull  be  much  in  reproving  their 
wickediiefs,  as  wc  fuid  Lot  w^s  in  Sodom  ;  who,  we  arc 

told, 


78  A   H  I  S  r  O  R  Y   OF  Period  L 

lokl,  vexed  his  righteous  foul  whli  their  unlawful  deeds^ 
aiid  was  a  preaclier  of  righteoufnefs  to  them. 

And  they  were  the  more  expofed  to  them^  being 
ftrangers  and  fojourners  in  the  land,  and  having  no  in- 
heritance there  as  yet.  Men  are  more  apt  to  hnd  fault 
with  Grangers,  and  to  be  irritated  by  any  thing  in  therp. 
that  offends  them,  as  they  w'ere  ^vith  Lot  in  Sodom, 
itle  very  gently  reproved  their  wickednefs ;  and  they  fay 
upon  it,  "  This  fellow  came  in  to  fojourn,  and  he  will 
•"  needs  be  a  ruler  anda  judge  j"  .and  threatened  what 
they  would  do  to  him. 

But  God  wonderfully  preferved  Abraham  and  Lot, 
<md  Ifaac  and  Jacob,  and  their  families,  amongfl  them, 
though  they  v/ere  few  in  number,  and  they  might  quick- 
ly have  dciiroyed  them  ;  which  is  taken  notice  of  as  ^ 
wonderful  initance  of  God's  preferving  mercy  toward 
his  church,  Pfal.  cv.  12.  &c.  "  When  they  were  but  a 
*'  few  men  in  number  ;  yea,  very  few,  and  ftrangers  in 
-"  it.  When  they  went  from,  one  nation  to  another, 
^*  from  one  kingdom  to  another  people.  He  fuffercd  no 
"  man  to  do  them  wrong ;  yea,  he  reproved  kings  for 
'•  their  fakes,  faying,  Touch  not  mine  annointed,  and 
"  do  my  prophets  no  harm." 

This  prefervaticn  was  in  fome'inftances  efpecially  ve- 
ly  remarkable ;  thofe  infiances  that  we  have  an  account 
of,  wherein  the  people  of  the  land  were  greatly  irritate^ 
and  provoked ;  as  they  were  by  Simeon  and  Levi's  treats, 
ment  of  the  Shechemites,  as  you  may  fee  in  Gen.  xxxiv. 
30.  &c.  God  then  ftrangely  preferved  Jacob  and  his 
family,  reftraining  the  provoked  people  by  an  unufual 
terror  on  their  n^inds,  as  you  may  fee  in  Gen.  xxxv.  ^. 
"  And  the  terror  of  God  was  upon  the  cities  that  were- 
"  round  about  them,  and  they  did  not  purfue  after  the 
"  fpns  of  Jacob." 

And  God's  preferving  them,  not  only  from  the  Ca- 
naanites,  is  here  to  be  taken  notice  of,  but  his  preferving 
them  from  all  others  that  intended  mifchief  to  them  ; 
as  his  preferving  Jacob  and  his  company,  when  pur- 
I'ued  by  Laban,  full  of  rage,  and  a  difpofirion  to  overtake 
him  as  an  enemy :  God  met  him,  and  rebuked  him, 
and  faid  to  him,  "  Take  heed  that  thou  fpeak  not  to 
**  Jacob  either  good  or  bad."  How  wonderfully  did  he 
alfo  prcferve  hiin  from  Efau  his  brcther,  when  he  camq 

forth 


Fart  III.    The  Wor.K  of  REDEMPTION.      79 

forth  with  an  army,  with  a  full  dcfign  to  cut  him  ofT ! 
how  did  God,  in  anfwer  to  his  pra)er,  \vhen  he  wrclHcd 
witii  Chrift  at  Pcnual,  wonderfully  turn  Efau's  hearty 
r.nd  make  him,  inftead  of  meeting  him  as  an  enemy, 
with  flaughter  and  deftrnftion,  to  meet  him  as  a  friend 
and  brother,  doing  him  no  harm  ! 

And  thus  were  this  handhd,  tliis  little  root  that  had 
the  bleffing  of  the  Redeemer  in  it,  prelerved  in  the 
jTiidfl  of  enemies  and  dangers ;  which  Vv^as  not  unlike 
to  the  preferving  the  ark  in  the  midu  of  the  tempeftu- 
ous  deluge. 

IV.  The  next  thing  I  would  mention  is,  the  awful 
deftruftion  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  and  the  neighbour- 
ing cities.  This  tended  to  promote  the  great  delign  and 
work  that  is  the  fubjeft  of  my  prefent  undertaking,  two 
ways.  It  did  fo,  as  it  tended  powerfully  to  reftrain  the 
inhabitants  of  the  land  from  injuring  thofe  holy  firan- 
gers  that  God  had  bror.ght  to  fojourn  amongft  them. 
Lot  was  one  of  thofe  Grangers ;  lie  came  into  the  land 
with  Abraham  ;  and  Sodom  was  deftroyed  for  tlieir  a- 
bufive  difregard  of  Lot,  the  preacher  of  righteoufnefs, 
that  God  had  fent  among  them.  And  their  deflruftion 
came  juft  upon  their  committing  a  moll  injurious  and 
-abominable  infult  on  Lot,  and  the  Grangers  that  were 
come  into  his  houfe,  even  thofe  Angels,  whom  they 
probably  took  to  be  fome  of  Lot's  form.er  acquaintance 
come  from  the  country  that  he  came  from,  to  vifit  him. 
They  in  a  moft  outrageous  manner  befet  Lot's  houfc^ 
intending  a  monilrous  abufe  and  a61of  \iolence  on  thofe 
llrangers  that  were  come  thither,  and  threatning  to 
ferve  Lot  \vorfe  than  them. 

But  in  the  midft  of  this  God  fmote  them  with  blind- 
nefs;  and  the  next  morning  the  city  and  the  coimtry 
about  it  was  overthrown  in  a  moll  terrible  llorm  of  fire 
and  brimllone;  which  dreadful  dellruflion,  as  it  was  in 
the  fight  of  the  reft  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  land,  and 
therefore  greatly  teiidcd  to  reftrain  them  from  hurtin_(y 
thofe  holy  llrangers  any  more ;  it  doubtlcfs  llruck  a. 
dread  and  terror  on  their  minds,  and  made  them  afraid 
to  hurt  them,  and  probably  was  one  principal  means  to 
rcflrain  them,  andj-rcferve  the  patriarchs.  And  when 
that  reafon  is  given  why  the  inhabitants  of  the  janddid 
not  purfuc  after  Jacol),  when  the\'  ^\•ere  fo  provoked  hv 

the 


8o  AHlSTORYoF  Period!. 

the  deftruftion  of  the  Shechemites,  viz.  *'that  the  terror 
*'  of  the  Lord  was  upon  them."  It  is  very  probable,  that 
this  was  the  terror  that  was  fet  home  upon  them.  They 
remembered  the  amazing  deftruftion  of  Sodom,  and  the 
cities  of  the  plain,  that  came  upon  them  upon  their  abu- 
five  treatment  of  Lot,  and  fo  durft  not  hurt  Jacob  and 
his  family,  though  they  were  fo  much  provoked  to  it. 

Another  way  that  this  awful  deftru6tion  tended  to 
promote  this  great  affair  of  redemption,  was,  that  here- 
by God  did  remarkably  exhibit  the  terrors  of  his  law,  to 
make  men  fenfible  of  their  need  of  redeeming  mercy. 
The  work  of  redemption  never  was  carried  on  without 
this.  The  law,  from  the  beginning  is  made  ufe  of  as 
a  fchoolmafter  to  bring  men  to  Chrift. 

But  under  the  Old  Teftament  there  was  much  more 
need  of  fome  extraordinary,  vifible,  and  fenfible  mani- 
feftation  of  God's  wrath  againft  fin,  than  in  the  days  of 
the  gofpel ;  fince  a  future  ftate,  and  the  eternal  mifery 
of  hell,  is  more  clearly  revealed,  and  fince  the  awful 
juftice  of  God  againft  the  fins  of  men  has  been  fo  won- 
derfully difplayed  in  the  fufferings  of  Chrift.  And  there- 
fore the  revelation  that  God  gave  of  himfelfinthofe  days, 
ufed  to  be  accompanied  with  much  more  terror  than  it 
is  in  thefe  days  of  the  gofpel.  So  when  God  ap- 
peared at  Mount  Sinai  to  give  the  law,  it  was  with  thun- 
ders and  lightnings,  and  a  thick  cloud,  and  the  voice  of 
the  trumpet  exceeding  loud.  But  Ibme  external,  awful 
manifeftations  of  God's  wrath  againft  fin  were  on  fome 
accounts  efpccially  neceffary  before  the  giving  of  the 
law  :  and  therefore,  before  the  flood,  the  terrors  of  die 
law  handed  down  by  tradition  from  Adam  ferved.  A- 
dam  lived  nine  hundred  and  thirty  years  himfelf,  to 
tell  the  church  of  God's  awful  threatnings  denounced 
in  the  covenant  made  with  him,  and  how  dreadful  the 
confequences  of  the  fall  were,  as  he  was  an  eye-witnefs 
and  fubjeft  ;  and  others,  that  converfcd  with  Adam, 
lived  till  the  flood.  And  the  deftruftion  of  the  world 
by  the  flood,  ferved  to  exhibit  the  terrors  of  the  law, 
and  manifeft  the  wrath  of  God  againft  fin  ;  and  fo  to 
make  men  fenfible  of  the  abfolutc  neceflity  of  redeem- 
ing mercy.  And  fome  that  faw  the  flood  were  alive 
in  Abraham's  time. 

But  this  was  now  in  a  great  meafure  forgotten  ;  now 

therefore. 


Part  III.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     81 

therefore,  God  ^\'as  pleafed  again,  in  a  moft  amazing 
manner,  to  {how  his  wrath  againil  fin,  in  the  deftruttion 
oFthefe  cities ;  which  was  after  fuch  a  manner  as  to  be 
the  Hveheft  image  of  hell  of  any  diing  that  ever  had 
been ;  and  therefore  the  apoftle  Jude  fays,  "  They  fuf- 
''  fer  the  vengeance  of  eternal  fire."  Jude  7.  God 
rained  fforms  of  fire  and  brimllone  upon  them.  The 
way  that  they  were  deffroyed  probably  was  by  thick 
flalhes  6f  lightning.  The  Itr^ams  of  brimflone  were  fo 
thick  as  to  burn  up  all  thefe  cities  ;  fo  that  they  perifh- 
ed  in  the  flames  of  divine  wTath.  By  this  might  be  feen 
the  dreadful  wrath  of  God  againff  the  ungodlinefs  and 
unrighteoufnefs  of  men  ;  which  tended  to  Ihow  men  the 
necefhty  of  redemption,  and  fo  to  promote  that  great 
work. 

V.  God  again  renewed  and  confirmed  the  covenant 
of  grace  to  Ifaac  and  to  Jacob.  He  did  fo  to  Ifaac,  as 
you  may  fee,  Gen.  xxvi.  3.  4.  '*  And  I  will  perform 
**  the  oath  which  I  fware  unto  Abraham  thy  father; 
*'  and  I  will  make  thy  feed  to  multiply  as  the  flars  of 
*'  Heaven,  and  I  will  give  unto  thy  feed  all  thefe  coun- 
•*  tries ;  and  in  thy  feed  fhall  all  the  nations  of  the  earth 
"  be  blefTed."  And  afterwards  it  was  renewed  and 
confirmed  to  Jacob ;  firfl  in  Ifaac 's  blefhng  of  him, 
wherein  he  a6ted  and  fpoke  by  extraordinary  divine  di- 
reftion.  In  that  bleffing,  the  blefTmgs  of  the  covenant 
of  grace  were  eftablifhed  with  Jacob  and  his  feed ;  as 
Gen.  xxvii.  29.  "  Let  people  ferve  thee,  and  nations 
*'  bow  down  to  thee ;  be  lord  o\'er  thy  brethren,  and 
"  let  thy  mother's  fons  bow^  down  to  thee  :  Curfed  be 
**  every  one  that  curfeth  thee,  and  blelTed  be  he  that 
*'  bleffedi  thee."  And  therefore  Efau,  in  miffing  of  this 
bleffing,  miffed  of  being  bleffed  as  an  heir  of  the  bene- 
fits of  the  covenant  of  grace. 

This  covenant  was  again  renewed  and  confirmed  to 
Jacob  at  Bethel,  in  his  vifion  of  the  ladder  that  reached 
to  Heaven ;  which  ladder  was  a  fymbol  of  the  way  of 
falvation  by  Chrifl.  For  the  flone  that  Jacob  reffed  on 
was  a  type  of  Chriff,  the  flone  of  Ifrael,  which  the  fpi- 
ritual  Ifrael  or  Jacob  refts  upon ;  as  is  evident,  becaufe 
this  flone  was  on  this  occafion  anointed,  and  was  made 
ufe  of  as  an  altar.  But  we  know  that  Chrifl  is  the  a- 
noijited  of  God,  and  is  the  only  true  gltar  of  God> 
H  While 


^2  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Peiiodl . 

While  Jacob  ^s^as  reftingon  this  ftone,  and  faw  this  lad- 
der, God  appears  to  him  as  his  covenant  God,  and  re- 
news the  covenant  of  grace  with  him  ;  as  in  Gen.  xxviii. 
14.  "  And  thy  feed  fliall  be  as  the  duft  of  the  earth  ; 
*'  and  thou  flialt  fpread  abroad  to  the  weft,  and  to  the 
*'  eaft,  and  to  the  north,  and  to  the  fouth  ;  and  in  thee 
*'  and  in  thy  feed  fhall  all  the  families  of  the  earth  be 
*'  bleffed." 

And  Jacob  had  another  remarkable  confinnation  of 
this  covenant  at  Penuel,  where  he  wreitled  with  God, 
and  prevailed ;  where  Chrift  appeared  to  him  in  a  hu- 
man form,  in  the  form  of  that  nature  which  he  was 
afterwards  to  receive  into  a  perfonal  union  with  his 
divine  nature. 

And  God  renewed  his  covenant  with  him  again,  af- 
ter he  was  come  out  of  Padan-aram,  and  was  come  up 
to  Bethel,  to  the  ftone  that  he  hadreftedon,  andwdreie 
he  had  the  vifion  of  the  ladder ;  as  you  may  fee  in 
Gen.  XXXV.  10.  &:c. 

Thus  the  covenant  of  Grace  was  now  often  renewed 
much  oftener  than  it  had  been  before.  The  light  of 
the  gofpel  now  began  to  fhine  much  brighter,  as  the 
time  drew  nearer  that  Chrift  fhould  comie. 

VI.  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve,  is  God's  re- 
markably preferving  the  family  of  which  Chrift  was  to 
proceed,  from  perilhing  by  famine,  by  the  inftrumen- 
taHty  of  Jofeph.  When  there  was  a  feven  years  famine 
approaching,  God  was  pleafed,  by  a  \vonderfuI  provi- 
dence, to  fend  Jofeph  into  Egypt,  there  to  provide  for, 
and  feed  Jacob  and  his  family,  and  to  keep  the  holy 
feed  alive,  which  otherw^ife  would  have  perifhed.  Jo- 
feph was  fent  into  Egypt  for  that  end,  as  he  obferves. 
Gen.  1.  20.  "  But  as  for  you,  ye  thought  evil  againft 
*'  me;  but  God  meant  it  unto  good,  to  favemuchj'.co- 
*'  pie  ahve."  Plow  often  had  this  holy  root,  that  had 
the  future  branch  of  righteoufnefs,  the  glorious  Re- 
deemer, in  it,  been  in  danger  of  being  deftro)'ed  !  But 
God  wonderfully  preferved  it. 

This  falvation  of  the  houfe  of  Ifrael  by  the  hand  of 
.Jofeph,  was  upon  fome  accounts  very  much  a  refem- 
blance  of  tlie  falvation  of  Chrift.  Tlie  children  of  Ifrael 
w^ere  faved  by  Jofeph  their  kinfman  and  brother,  from 
perifliing  by  famine ;  as  he  that  faves  the  fouls  of  the 

fpirituaJ 


Part  III.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION      83 

fpiritual  Ifrael  from  fpiritual  famine  is  their  near  kinL 
man,  and  one  that  is  not  afhamed  10  call  them  brethren. 
Jofeph  was  a  brother,  that  they  had  hated,  and  fold, 
and  as  it  were  killed  ;  for  they  had  defigned  to  kill  him. 
So  Chrift  is  one  that  we  naturally  hate,  and,  by  our 
wicked  lives,  Ixave  fold  for  the  vain  things  of  the  world, 
and  that  by  our  lins  we  haveflain.  Jofeph  \vas  firiliii 
a  Hate  of  humiliation ;  he  was  a  lervant,  as  Chriit  ap- 
peared in  the  form  of  a  fervant ;  and  then  was  caft  int5 
a  dungeon,  as  Chrift  defcended  into  the  grave ;  and 
then  when  he  rofe  out  of  the  dungeon,  he  was  in  a  ftate 
of  great  exaliation,  at  the  King's  right  hand  as  his  de- 
puty, to  reign  over  all  his  kingdom,  10  provide  food,  to 
preferve  life ;  and  being  in  this  ftate  of  exaltation,  he 
difp.enfcs  food  t.o  his  brethren,  and  fo  gives  them  life  - 
as  Chrift  was  exalted  at  God's  right  hand  to  be  a  prince 
and  faviour  to  his  brethren,  and  received  gifts  for  men, 
even  for  the  rebellious,  and  them  tliat  hated,  and  had 
fold  him. 

VII.  After  this  there  was  a  prophecy  given  forth  of 
Chrift,  on  fome  accounts,  more  particular  than  eve;* 
any  had  been  before,  even  that  which  was  in  Jacob's 
blefling  his  fon  Judah.  This  was  more  particular  thari 
ever  any  had  been  before,  as  it  fliowed  of  whofe  polle- 
rity  he  was  to  be.  When  God  called  Abraham,  it  was 
revealed  that  he  was  to  be  of  Abraham's  poflerity.  Be- 
fore, we  have  no  account  of  any  revelation  concerninsj' 
Chrift's  pedigree  confined  to  narrower  limits  than  the 
poilerity  of  Noah :  after  this  it  w^as  confined  to  ftill 
narrower  limits;  for  though  Abraham  had  many  fons, 
yet  it  was  revealed,  that  Chrift  was  to  he  of  Ifaac's  po- 
fterity.  And  then  it  was  limited  more  Hill :  for  when 
Ifaac  had  two  fons,  it  was  revealed  tliat  Chrift  was  to  be; 
of  Hrael's  poilerity.  And  no^v,  though  ifrael  had 
twelve  fons,  yet  it  is  revealed  that  Chrift.  fhould  be  of 
Judah's  pofterity  :  Chrift  is  the  lion  of  the  tribe  of  Ju- 
dah. Refpeft  is  chiefly  had  to  his  great  a6ls,  when  it 
is  f?.id  here.  Gen.  xlix.  8.  "Judah,  thou  art  he  whom 
"  thy  brethren  Ihall  praife;  tliy  hand  Ihall  be  in  the 
"  neck  of  thine  enemies ;  thy  father's  children  fhall 
"  bow  down  before  tlicc.  Judah  is  a  lion's  whelp  ; 
"  from  the  prey,  my  fon,  thou  art  gone  up  :  he  ftoop- 
•'  cd  down,  he  couched  as  a  lion,  and  as  an  old  lion  j 
II  2  ^  V  ho 


84  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  I. 

"  uho  fhall  roufe  him  up  ?"  And  then  this  predic- 
tion is  more  particular  concerning  the  time  of  Chrift's 
coming,  than  any  had  been  before;  as  in  verf.  lo. 
"  The  fceptre  Ihall  not  depart  from  Judah,  nor  a 
*'  lawgiver  from  between  his  feet,  until  Shiloh  come ; 
*'  and  unto  him  fnall  the  gathering  of  the  people  be." 
71ie  prophecy  here,  of  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles  con- 
feqiient  on  Chrift's  coming,  feems  to  be  more  plain 
than  any  had  been  before,  in  the  exprefTion,  to  him 
Jhall  tht  gathering  of  the  people  be. 

Thus  \'oa  fee  how  that  gofpel  light  which  dawned 
immedialely  after  the  fall  of  man,  gradually  encreafcs. 

VIII.  The  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  in 
this  period,  in  God's  wonderfully  preferving  the  chil- 
dren of  Ifrael  in  Egypt,  when  the  po^ver  of  Egypt  was 
engaged  utterly' to  dcllroy  them.  They  Teemed  to  be 
wholly  in  the  hands  of  the  Eg)'ptians ;  they  were  their 
fervants,  and  were  fubjeft  to  the  powder  of  Pharaoh  : 
and  Pharaoh  fet  himfelf  to  weaken  them  with  hard 
bondage.  And  when  he  faw  that  did  not  do,  he  fet  him- 
felf to  extirpate  the  race  of  them,  by  commanding  that 
e\cry  male  child  fliouldbe  drowned.  But  after  all  that 
Pharaoh  could  do,  God  wonderfully  preferved  them  ; 
and  not  only  lb,  but  increafed  them  exceedingly;  fo 
that,  inflcad  of  being  extirpated,  they  greatly  multi- 
plied. 

IX.  Here  is  to  be  obferved,  not  only  the  prefervation 
of  the  nation,  but  God's  wonderfully  preferving  and  up- 
holding his  invifible  church  in  that  nation,  when  in 
danger  of  being  overwhelmed  in  the  idolatry  of  Egypt. 
I'he  children  of  Ifrael  being  long  among  the  Egyptians, 
?.nd  being  fervants  under  them,  and  fo  not  under  ad- 
vantages to  keep  God's  ordinances  among  themfelves, 
and  maintain  any  public  worfhip  or  public  inftruftion, 
tvhereby  the  triib  religion  might  be  upheld,  and  there 
][Teing  no^\^  no  ^vritten  word  of  God,  they,  by  degrees, 
in  a  great  meafure  loft  the  tiue  religion,  and  borrowed 
the  idolatry  of  Egypt;  'and the  greaterpart  of  thepeo- 
rle  fell  away  to  the 'worfhip  of  their'  God's.  This  we 
learn  by  Ezek.  xx.  6.  7.  8.  and  by  chap,  xxiii.  8. 

This  now  was'the  thi rd  time  that  God's  church  was  al- 
inoll:  fv.  allowed  up  and  carried  away  with  the  wicked- 
nefs  of  the  world ;  once  before  the  flood ;    the  other 

time. 


part  III.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      85 

time,  before  the  calling  of  Abraham ;  and  now,  th^ 
third  time,  in  Egypt.  But  yet  God  did  not  fuffer  his 
church  to  be  quite  overwhelmed  ;  he  ftill  faved  it,  like 
the  ark  in  the  flood,  and  as  he  faved  Mofes  in  the  midft 
of  the  waters,  in  an  ark  of  bulruflies,  \yher0  he  was  ii> 
the  utmoil  danger  of  being  fwallowed  up.  The  true 
religion  was  ftill  kept  up  with  fome  ;  and  God  had  ftill 
a  people  among  them,  even  in  this  miferable,  corrupt 
and  dark  time.  The  parents  of  Mofes  were  true  fer- 
vants  of  God,  as  we  may  learn  by  Heb.  xi.  23.  *'^y 
*'  faith  Mofes,  when  he  was  born,  w^s  hid  three 
*'  months  of  his  parents,  becaufe  they  faw  that  he  was 
"  a  proper  child ;  and  they  were  not  afraid  of  the 
'*  king's  commandment." 

I  have  now  gone  through  the  third  period  of  the  Old 
Teftament  time  ;  and  have  fhown  how  the  work  of  re- 
demption was  carried  on  from  the  calling  of  Abraham 
to  Mofes ;  in  which  we  have  feen  many  great  things 
done  towards  this  work,  and  a  great  advancement  of 
tiiis  building,  beyond  what  had  been  before^^ 


PART        IV. 

Fro?n  Mofes  to  David. 

I  PROCEED  to  the  fourth  period^  which  reaches 
from  Mofes  to  David. — I  would  fhow  how  the 
work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  through  this  alfo. 
I.  The  firft  thing  that  offers  itfelf  to  be  confidered  is 
the  redemption  of  the  church  of  God  out  of  Egypt ; 
the  moft  remarkable  of  all  the  Old-Teftament  redemp- 
tions of  the  church  of  God,  and  that  which  was  the 
greatefl  pledge  and  forerunner  of  the  future  redemption 
of  Chriit,  of  any ;  and  is  much  more  infilled  on  in  fcrip- 
ture  than  any  other  of  thofe  redemptions.  And  indeed 
it  was  the  gieateft  type  of  Chrift's  redemption  of  any 
providential  event  whatfoever.  This  redemption  was  by 
Jefus  Chrift,  as  is  evident  from  this,  that  it  was  wrought 
by  him  that  appeared  to  Mofes  in  the  bufh  ;  for  that 
v/as  the  perfon  tliat  fcnt  Mofes  to  redeem  that  people. 
But  that  was  Chrifl,  as  is  evident,  becaufe  he  is  called 
th»  A-nigel  of  the  Lord,  Expd,  iji.  2.  3.     The  bulli  re- 

prefented 


86  A   HISTORY   of  Period!. 

prefented  the  human  nature  of  Chrift,  that  is  called  the 
branch.  This  bu(h  grew  on  Mount  Sinai  or  Horeb, 
which  is  a  word  that  fignifies  a  dry  place,  as  the  human 
nature  of  Chrift  was  a  root  out  of  a  dry  ground.  The 
bufh  burning  witli  fire,  reprefented  the  fufferings  of 
Chrilf,  in  tlie  fire  of  God's  wrath.  It  burned,  and  was 
not  confumed ;  fo  Ghrift,  though  he  fuffered  extremely, 
yet  perifiied  not ;  but  overcame  at  laft,  and  rofe  frorn 
his  fufferings.  Becaufe  this  great  myftery  of  the  incar- 
nation and  fufferings  of  Chrift  was  here  reprefented,. 
therefore  Mofes  fays,  "  I  will  turn  afide,  and  behol(i 
'*  thi^  great  fight."  A  great  fight  he  might  well  call  it, 
when  there  was  reprefented,  God  manifeft  in  the  flelh^, 
and  fuffering  a  dreadful  death,  and  rifing  from  the 
dead. 

This  glorious  Redeemer  was  he  that  redeemed  the 
cliurch  out  of  Egypt,  from  under  the  hand  of  Pharaoh ; 
as  Chrift,  by  his  death  and  fufferings,  redeemed  his  peo- 
ple from  Satan,  the  fpiritual  Pharaoh.  He  redeemed 
them  from  hard  fervice  and  cruel  drudgery  ;  as  Chrift 
redeems  his  people  from  the  cruel  ilavery  of  fin  and  Sa- 
tan. He  redeemed  them,  as  it  is  {d\di,  frojn  the  iron  fur- 
mace  ;  as  Chrift  redeems  Ihis  church  from  a  furnace  of 
fire  and  everlafting  burnings.  He  redeemed  them  with 
a  ftrong  hand  and  out-ftretclied  arm,  and  great  and 
terrible  judgments  on  their  enemues ;  as  Chrift  with 
mighty  power  triumphs  over  principalities  and  powers^ 
and  executes  terrible  judgm.ents  on  his  church's  ene- 
mies, bruifing  the  ferpent's  head.  He  faved  them,  when 
others  were  deftroyed,  by  the  fprinkling  of  the  blood  ojF 
the  pafchal  lamib  ;  as  God's  church  is  faved  from  death 
by  the  fprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Chrift,  when  the  reft 
of  the  world  is  deftro)^ed.  God  brought  forth  the  peo- 
ple forely  againft  the  will  of  the  Egyptians,  when  they 
could  not  bear  to  let  tTiem  go  ;  fo  Chrift  refcues  his 
people  out  of  the  hands  of  the  devil,  forely  againft  his 
will,  when  his  proud  heart  cannot  hear  to  be  overcome. 
In  that  redemption,  Chrift  did  not  only  redeem  the 
people  from  the  Egyptiatis,  but  he  redeemed  them  from 
the  devils,  the  gods  of  Egypt;  for  before,  they  had  been 
in  a  ftate  of  fervitude  to  the  gods  of  Egypt,  as  well  as  to 
the  men.  And  Chrift,  the  feed  of  the  woman,  did  now, 
in  a  very  remarkable  inanucr,  fulfil  the  curfe  on  the  fer- 

pent. 


part  IV.      The  Work  OF  REDEM 

pent,  inbiTiIfing  his  head  :  Exod.  xii.  12.  ''  For  I  will 
*'  pafs  through  the  land  of  Egypt  this  night,  and  will 
*'  finite  all  the  firft-born  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  both 
*'  man  and  beaft,  and  againftall  the  gods  of  Egypt  will 
*'  I  execute  judgment."  Hell  was  as  much  and  more 
engaged  in  that  affair,  than  Egypt  was.  The  pride  and 
cruelty  of  Satan,  that  old  ferpent,  was  more  concern- 
ed in  it  than  Pharaoh's.  He  did  his  utmoft  againft  the 
people,  and  to  his  utmoft  oppofed  their  redemption. 
But  it  is  faid,  that  when  God  redeemed  his  people  out 
of  Egypt,  he  broke  the  heads  of  tlie  dragons  in  the  wa- 
ters, and  broke  the  head  of  leviathan  in  pieces,  and  gave 
him  to  be  meat  for  the  people  inhabiting  the  wildernefs, 
Pfal.  Ixxiv.  22.  13.  14.  God  forced  their  enemies  to 
let  them  go,  that  they  might  ferve  him  ;  as  alfo  Zacha- 
rias  obfen'es  with  refpeft  to  the  church  under  the  gof- 
pel,  Luke  1.  74.  75. 

The  people  of  Ifrael  went  out  w^ith  an  high  hand,  and 
Clirift  went  before  them  in  a  pillar  of  cloud  and  fire. 
There  was  a  glorious  triumph  over  earth  and  hell  in 
that  deliverance.  And  when  Pharaoh  and  his  hofts, 
and  Satan  by  them,  purfued  the  people,  Chrift  over- 
threw them  in  the  Red  fea  ;  the  Lord  triumphed  glo- 
rioufly  ;  the  horfe  and  his  rider  he  caft  into  the  fea,  and 
there  they  flept  their  laft  fleep,  and  never  follow'ed  the 
children  of  Ifrael  anymore;  as  all  Chriil's enemies  are 
overthrown  in  his  blood,  w^hich  bv  its  abnndant  fuffi- 
ciency,  and  the  greatnefs  of  the  fufferings  with  w^hich  it. 
was  fhed,  may  well  be  reprefented  by  a  fea.  The  Red 
fea  did  reprefent  Chrift's  blood,  as  is  evident,  becaufe 
the  apoftle  compares  the  children  of  Ifrael's  paffage 
through  the  Red  fea  to  baptifm,  1  Cor.  x.  1.  2.  But 
we  all  know  that  the  w^ater  of  baptifm  leprefents  Chrift's 
blood. 

Thus  Chrift,  the  Angel  of  God's  prefence,  in  his  love 
and  his  pity,  redeemed  his  people,  and  carried  them  in 
the  days  of  old  as  on  eagles  wings,  fo  that  none  of  their 
proud  and  fpiteful  enemies,  neither  Egyptians  nor  de- 
vils, could  touch  them. 

This  was  quite  anew  thing  that  God  did  towards  this 
great  work  of  redemption.  God  never  had  done  any 
thing  like  it  before  ;  Deut.  iv.  32.  33.  34.  This  was  a 
great  advancement  of  the  work  of  redemption,  that  had 

been 


88  AHISTORYoF  Period  I. 

been  begun  and  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man ;  a  great 
ftep  taken  in  divine  providence  towards  a  preparation 
for  Chrifl's  coming  into  the  world,  and  working  out  his 
great  and  eternal  redemption :  for  this  was  the  people 
of  whom  Chrift  was  to  com.e.  And  now  we  may  fee 
how  that  plant  flourifhed  that  God  had  planted  in  A- 
braham.  Though  the  family  of  which  Chrift  was  to 
come,  had  been  in  a  degree  feparated  from  the  reft  of 
the  world  before,  in  the  calling  of  Abraham  ;  yet  that 
reparation  that  was  then  made,  appeared  not  to  be  fuffi- 
cient,  without  further  feparation.  For  though  by  that 
feparation,  they  were  kept  as  ftrangers  and  fojourners, 
kept  from  being  united  with  other  people  in  the  fame 
political  Ibcieties ;  yet  they  remained  mixed  among  them^ 
by  which  means,  as  it  had  proved,  they  had  been  in 
danger  of  wholly  lofmg  the  true  religion,  and  of  being 
over-run  with  the  idolatry  of  their  neighbours.  God 
^now,  therefore,  by  this  redemption,  feparated  them  as  a 
nation  from  all  other  nations,  to  fubfift  by  themfelv€S 
in  theirown  political  and  ecclefiaftical  ftate,  without  ha- 
ving any  concern  with  the  Heathen  nations,  that  they 
might  fo  be  kept  feparate  till  Chrift  fhould  come ;  and  fo 
thatthe  church  of  Chrift  might  be  upheld,  aiidmightkeep 
the  oracles  of  God,  till  that  time ;  that  in  them  might  be 
kept  up  thofe  t)'pes  and  prophecies  of  Chrift,  andthofe 
hiftories,  and  other  divine  previous  inftruftions,  that 
were  neceflary  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrift's  coming. 
II.  As  this  people  were  feparated  to  be  God's  pecu- 
liar people,  fo  all  other  people  upon  the  face  of  the 
whole  earth  were  wholly  rejefted  and  given  over  to 
Heathenifm.  This,  fo  far  as  the  providence  of  God 
w^as  concerned  iri  it,  belongs  to  the  great  affair  of  re- 
demption that  we  are  upon,  and  ^vas  one  thing  that 
God  ordered  in  his  providence  to  prepare  the  way  for 
Chrift's  coming,  and  the  great  falvation  he  was  to  ac- 
complifh  in  the  world  ;  for  it  was  only  to  prepare  the 
wav  for  the  more  glorious  and  fignal  viftory  and  tri- 
imiph  of  Chrift's  power  and  grace  over  the  wicked  and 
miferabl^  world,  and'  that  Chrift's  falvation  of  the 
world  of  mankind  might  become  the  more  fenfrblc. 
This  is  the  account  the  fcripture  itfelf  gives  us  of  the 
matter,  Rom.  xi.  30.  31.  32,  The  apoftle  there  fpeak- 
ing  to  the  Gentiles  that  had  formerly  been  Heathens, 

fays, 


Part  IV.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     89 

favs,  "  As  yc  in  times  pafl  have  not  believed  God,  yet 
*'  have  now  obtained  mercy  through  th(nr  unbelief; 
*'  even  fo  have  thefe  alfo  now  not  believed,  that 
*'  through  )our  mercy  tliey  alio  may  obtain  mercy.  For 
*•  God  hatii  concluded  them  all  in  unbelief,  that  he 
*'  miglit  have  mercy  upon  all."  i.  e.  It  was  the  will  of 
God,  that  the  ^vhole  world,  Jews  and  Gentiles,  ftiould 
be  concluded  in  vifible  and  profeiTed  unbelief,  tliat  fo 
God's  mercy  and  Chriii's  falvation  t  wards  them  all 
miglit  be  vifible  and  fenfible.  For  the  apoflle  is  not 
fpeakingonly  of  that  unbelief  that  is  natural  to  all  God's 
profelling  people  as  well  as  others,  but  that  which  ap- 
pears, and  is  vifible  ;  iuch  as  4he  Jews  fell  into,  when 
they  openly  rejected  Chrift,  and  ceafcd  to  be  a  profefiing 
people.  The  apc^ftle  obferves,  how  that  firlt  the  Gen- 
tiles, even  the  Gentile  nations,  were  included  in  a  pro- 
feffed  unbelief  and  open  oppofition  to  the  true  religion, 
before  Chrift  came,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  calling  of 
the  Gentiles,  which  was  foon  after  Chrift  came,  that 
God's  mercy  might  be  the  more  vifible  to  them ;  and 
that  the  Jews  v/ere  rejefled  and  apoftatized  from  the  vi- 
fible church,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  calling  of  the 
Jews,  which  (hall  be  in  the  latter  days  :  fo  that  it  may 
be  feen  of  all  nations,  Jews  and  Gentiles,  that  they  are 
vifibly  redeemed  by  Chrift,  from  being  vifibly  aliens 
from  the  common vv'ealth  of  Ifrael,  without  hope,  and 
without  God  in  the  world. 

We  cannot  certainly  determine  prccifely  at  Vvh.at  time 
the  apoftacy  of  the  Gentile  nations  from  the  true  God, 
or  their  being  concluded  in  vifible  unbelief,  became  uni- 
verfal.  Their  falling  awa)'  was  a  gradual  tiling,  as  we 
obferved  before.  It  was  general  in  Abraham's  time, 
but  not  nniverfal  :  for  then  wa  find  Melchifedec,  one 
of  the  kings  of  Canaan,  was  prieft  of  the  moft  high 
God.  And  after  this  the  true  religion  was  kept  up  for 
a  ^vhile  am^ong  foir.c  of  the  reft  of  Abraham's  pofterity, 
befides  the  family  of  Jacob  ;  and  alfo  in  fome  of  the  po- 
fterity of  Nahor,  as  x/e  have  inftances  of  in  Job,  and  his 
three  friends,  and  Elihu.  The  land  of  Uz,  where  Job 
lived,  was  a  land  poirelfed  by  the  pofterity  of  Uz,  or 
Huz,  the  fon  of  Nahor,  Abraham's  brother,  of  whom 
we  read  Gen.  xxii.  21.  Bildad  the  Shuhite  was  of  the 
offspring  of  Shuah,  Abrahaio'.5  fon  by  Keturah,  Gen. 

I  '  XXV* 


go  AHlSTORYoF  Period  L 

XXV.  1.  2.  and  Elihu  the  Buzite,  was  of  Buz  the  Ton  of 
Kahor,  ih^  brother  of  Abraham.  So  the  true  religion 
lailed  am:>Lig  fome  other  people  befides  the  Ifraelites,  a 
while  .'Iter  Abraham-  But  it  djd  not  lafl  long  :  and  it 
is  probable  that  tne  time  of  their  total  reje6iion,  and  gi- 
ving up  to  idolatry,  was  about  the  time  when  God  fepa- 
rated  the  children  of  Ifrael  from  Eg)'pt  to  ferve  him ; 
for  they  are  often  put  in  mind  on  thatoccafion,  that  God 
had  now  feparated  them  to  be  his  pecuhar  people  ;  or 
to  be  diftinguiflicd  from  all  other  people  upon  earth,  to 
be  his  people  alone  ;  to  be  his  portion,  when  others 
were  rejefted.  This  feems  to  hold  forth  thus  much  to 
us,  that  God  row  chofe  them  in  fuch  a  manner,  that 
this  vifible  choice  of  them  was  accompanied  with  a  vi- 
hble  rejeftion  of  all  other  nations  in  the  world  ;  that 
God  vifihly  came,  and  took  up  his  refidence  with  them, 
as  forfdking  all  other  nations. 

And  fo,  as  the  firil;  caHing  af  the  Gentiles  after  Chrift 
came,  was  accompanied  with  a  rejeftion  of  the  Jews;  fo 
the  firft  caliirig  of  the  Jews  to  be  God's  people,  when  they 
were  called  out  of  Eg}'pt  was  accompanied  with  a  re. 
jeftion  of  the  Gentiles. 

Thtis  all  the  Gentile  nations  throughout  the  whole 
world,  all  nations,  but  only  the  Ifraelites,  and  thofe  that 
embodied  thcmfelves  with  them,  were  left  and  given  up 
to  idolatiy ;  and  fo  continued  a  great  many  ages,  even 
from  this  time  till  Chrift  came,  which  was  about  fifteen 
hundred  years.  They  were  concluded  fo  long  a  time 
in  unbelief,  that  there  might  be  a  thorough  proof  of 
the  necefhty  of  a  Saviour ;  that  it  might  appear  by  lo 
long  a  trial,  paft  all  contradi61ion,  that  mankind  were 
utterly  infufficient  to  deliver  themfelves  from  thatgrofs^ 
darknefs  and  mifery,  and  fubjeftion  to  the  devil,  that 
they  had  fallen  under  ;  that  it  might  appear  that  all  the 
w^fdom  of  thephiiofophers,  and  the  wifeft  men  that  the 
Heathen  had  among  them,-  could  not  deliver  them  from 
their  darknefs,  for  the  greater  glory  to  Jefus  Chrift, 
who,  when  he  came,  enlightened  and  delivered  them  by 
his  glorious  gofpel.  Herein  die  wonderful  wifdom  of 
God  appeared,  i!i  dius  preparing  the  way  for  Chrift's 
redemption.  This  the  fcripture  teaches  us,  as  in  i  Cor. 
i.  2 1.  'Tor  after  that,  in  the  wifdom  of  God  the  world, 

*'  by 


Part  IV.     The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.     91 

*'  bv  wifdom  knew  not  God,  it  pleafed  God  by  the  fool- 
^'  iiimefs  of  preaching  to  fave  them  that  beheve." 

Here  I  might  conlider  as  another  work  of  God, 
whereby  thegeneral  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on, 
that  wonderful  deliverajice  which  he  wrought  for  the 
children  of  Ifrael  at  the  Red  Sea,  when  they  were  pur- 
fued  by  the  holts  of  the  Egyptians,  and  were  juft  ready 
to  be  fwallowed  up  by  them,  there  being,  to  human  ap- 
pearance, no  polhbility  of  an  efcape.  But  as  this  may 
be  referred  to  their  redemption  out  of  Eg)'pt,  and  con- 
fidered  as  a  part  of  that  more  general  work,  I  Ihall  not 
further  enlarge  upon  it. 

III.  The  next  thing  thsit  I  fhall  take  notice  of  here, 
that  was  done  towards  the  work  of  redemption,  is  God's 
giving  thernoral  law  in  fo  awful  a  manner  at  Mount  Si- 
nai. This  was  another  new  thing  that  God  did,  a  new 
Hep  taken  in  this  great  affair.  Deut.  iv.  33,  "Did  ever 
•*  a  people  hear  the  voice  of  God  fpeaking  out  of  the. 
^*  midft  of  the  fire,  as  thou  haft  heard,  and  live  ?"  And 
it  was  a  great  thing  that  God  did  towards  this  work, 
and  that  whether  we  confider  it  as  delivered  as  a  new 
exhibition  of  the  covenant  of  v/orks,  or  given  as  a  rule 
of  hfc. 

The  covenant  of  works  washereexhibited  robeas  a 
fchoolmafler  to  lead  to  Chrift,  not  only  for  the  ufe  o£^ 
that  nation  in  the  ages  of  the  Old  Teftament,  but  for  the 
ufe  of  God's  church  throughout  ail  ages  of  the  world ; 
as  an  inftrument  that  the  great  Redeemer, makes, ufe  of 
to  convince  men  of  their  fm  and  milery,  and  helplefa 
ftate,  and  of  God's  awful  and  tremenduousm,ajefty  and 
juftice  as  a  lawgiver,  and  fo  to  make  men  fenfible  of 
tlie  neceffity  of  Chrift  as  a  Saviour.  The  work  of  re- 
demption, in  its  faving  effect  on  mens  fouls,  in  all  the. 
progrefs  of  it  to  the  end  of  it,  is  not  carried  on  without 
tlieufeof  this  law  that  was  now  delivered  at. Smai. 

It  was  given  in  an  awful  manner,  with  a  terrible  voice 
exceedingly  loud  and  awful,  fo  ihat  all  the  people,  that 
were  in  the  camp  trembled  ;  and  Mofes  himfeif,  though 
fo  intimate  a  friend  of  God,  yet  faid,  Lexceedingly  fear 
and  quake ;  the  voice  being  accompanied  with  thunders 
and  lightnings,  the  mountain  burning  with  fire  to  the 
midft  of  Heaven,  and  the  earth  itlclffhaking  and  trem- ^ 
bJing;  to  m.ake  all  fenfible  how  great  that    authority^ 


92  AHISTORYoF  Period  I. 

power,  and  juftice  was,  that  flood  engaged  to  exa6l  the 
fulfilment  of  this  law,  and  to  fee  it  fully  executed;  and 
how  ftricrly  God  would  require  the  fulfilment ;  and 
how  terrible  his  wrath  would  be  agaiall  every  breaker 
of  it ;  that  men  being  fenfible  of  thefe  things,  might 
have  a  thorough  trial  of  themfelves,  and  might  prove 
their  own  hearts,  and  know  how  impoffible  it  is  for 
them  to  have  falvatiori  by  the  works  of  the  law,  and 
might  fee  the  abfolute  neceflity  they  flood  in  of  a  Me- 
diator. 

If  we  regard  fhislavv^  now  given  at  Mount  Sinai,  not 
as  the  covenant  of  works,  but  as  a  rule  of  life  ;  fo  it  is- 
made  ufe  of  by  the  Redeemer,  from  that  time  to  the  end 
of  the  world,  as  a  diretiory  to  his  people,  to  fhow  them 
the  way  in  which  they  muft  walk,  as  they  would  go  to 
Heaven  :  for  a  way  of  fincere  and  univerfal  obedience 
to  this  law,  is  the  narrow  v/ay  that  leads  to  life. 

IV.  The  next  thing  that  is  obfervable  in  this  period, 
was  God's  giving  the  typical  law,  in  which  I  iuppofe  to 
be  included  moW  or  all  thofe  precepts  that  were  given  by 
Mofes,  that  did  not  properly  belong  to  the  moral  law  ; 
not  only  thofe  laws  that  are  commonly  called  ceremo- 
nial, in  difrinftion  from  judicial  laws,  which  are  the 
laws  prefcribing  the  ceremonies  and  circumflances  of 
the  Jewifli  worlhip,  and  their  ecclefiafhcal  ilate  ;  but 
alfo  many,  if  not  all  thofe  divine  laws  that  were  poHti- 
cal,  and  for  regulating  the  Jew ifh  commonwealth,  com- 
monly caWedjudiciai  law's ;  thefe  were  at  befl  many  of 
them  typical.  The  giving  this  t)'pical  law  was  another 
great  thing  that  God  did  in  this  period,  tending  to 
build  up  this  glorious  flrufture  of  redemption  that  God 
had  been  carrying  on  from  the  beginning  of  the  world. 
There  had  been  many  typical  events  of  providence  be- 
fore, that  reprefented  Chrifl  and  his  redemption,  and 
fom.e  typical  ordinances,  as  particularly  thofe  two  of  fa- 
crificesandcircumcifion  :  but  now,  inflead  of  reprefent- 
ing  the  great  Redeemer  in  a  few  inflitutions,  God  gives 
forth  a  law  full  of  nothing  elfe  but  various  and  innume- 
ra])le  typical  reprefentations  of  good  things  to  come,  by 
•which  that  nation  were  directed  how,  every  year,  month, 
and  day,  in  their  religious  aftions,  and  in  their  condu6l 
of  themfelves,  in  all  that  appertained  to  their  ecclefiafti- 
cal  and  civil  ftate,  to  Ihow  forth  fomething  of  Chrifl; 
■  -  one 


Fart  IV.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      93 

one  obfervance  f]io\ving  one  thing,  exhibiting  one  doc- 
trine, or  one  benefit ;  another,  another :  fo  that  the 
whole  nation  by  this  law  was,  as  it  were,  conflitnied  in 
a  typical  Itate.  Thus  the  gofpel  was  abundantly  held 
forth  to  that  nation ;  i'o  that  there  is  fcarce  any  doftrine 
of  it,  but  is  particularly  taught  and  exhibited  by  fome 
obfervance  of  this  law  ;  though  it  was  in  fhadows,  and 
under  a  veil,  as  Mofes  put  a  veil  on  his  face  when  it 
fhone. 

To  this  typical  law  belong  all  the  precepts  that  relate 
to  builduigVhe  tabernacle,  that  was  letup  in  thewilder- 
nefs,  and  all  the  form,  circumftances,  and  utenfils  of  it. 

V.  About  this  time  was  given  to  God's  church  the 
firll  written  word  of  God  that  ever  w^as  enjoyed  by 
God's  people.  This  was  another  great  thing  done  to- 
wards the  affair  of  redemption,  a  new  and  glorious  ad- 
vancement of  the  building.  Not  far  from  this  time,  was 
the  beginning  of  the  great  written  rule,  which  God  has 
given  for  the  reguLuionof  the  faith,  worfhip,  and  prac- 
tice of  his  church  in  all  ages  henceforward  to  the  end 
of  the  world ;  which  rule  grew,  and  was  added  to  from 
that  time,  for  many  ages,  till  it  was  finifhed,  and  the 
canon  of  fcripture  compleated  by  the  apoftle  John.  It  is 
not  veiy  material,  whether  the  firft  written  word  that 
ever  vyas,  was  the  ten  commandments  written  on  the 
tables  of  flone  with  the  finger  of  God,  or  the  book  of 
Job  ;  and  whether  the  book  of  Job  was  written  by  Mo- 
fes, as  fo'Tie  fuppofe,  or  by  Elihu,  as  others.  If  it  was 
written  by  Elihu,  it  was  written  before  this  period  that 
v,-e  are  now  upon  ;  but  yet  could  not  be  far  from  it,  as' 
appears  by  confidering  whofe  pofterity  the  perfons  were 
that  are  fpoken  of  in  it,  together  with  Job's  great  age, 
that  was  pall  before  this  \vas  written. 

The  written  word  of  God  is  the  main  indrument 
Chriil  has  madeufe  of  to  carry  on  his  work  of  redemp- 
tion in  all  ages  fnice  it  was  given.  There  was  a  neceffi- 
ty  now  of  the  word  of  God's  being  committed  to  writ- 
ing, for  a  ileady  rule  to  God's  church.  Before  this, 
the  church  had  the  word  of  God  by  tradition,  either  by 
immediate  tradition  from  eminent  men  that  were  infpi- 
red,  that  were  then  living  (for  it  was  a  common  thing  in 
thofe  days,  before  there  was  a  written  word,  for  God  to 
reveal  liimfelf  immediately  to  eminent  perfons,  as  ap- 
pears 


54  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  I. 

.pears  by  the  book  of  Job,  and  many  other  things  that 
might  be  mentioned,  in  the  book  of  Geiicfis,)  or  eHe 
they  had  it  by  tradition  from  former  generations,  which 
might  be  had  with  tolerable  certainty  in  ages  preceding 
this,  by  reafon  of  the  long  lives  of  men.  Noah  might 
converfe  with  Adam,  and  receive  traditions  from  him; 
and  Noah  lived  till  about  Abraham's  time  ;  and  the 
fons  of  Jacob  lived  a  confiderable  time  to  deliver  the  re- 
velations made  to  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  to  their 
pofterity  in  Egypt.  But  the  diftance  from  the  beginning 
of  things  was  become  fo  great,  and  the  lives  of  men  be- 
come fo  fhort,  being  brought  down  to  the  prefent  ftan- 
dard  about  Mbfes's  time,  and  God  having  now  feparated 
a  nation  to  be  a  peculiar  people,  partly  for  that  end  to 
be  the  keepers  of  the  oracles  of  God  ;  God  fawit  to  be 
a  needful  and  convenient  time  now  to  commit  his  word 
to  writing,  to  remain  henceforward  for  a  fteady  rule 
throughout  all  ages.  And  therefore,  befides  the  book 
of  Job,  CKrift  wTOte  the  ten  commandments  on  tables 
of  itone,  with  his  own  finger  ;  and  after  this  the  whole 
law,  as  containing  the  fubftance  of  the  five  books  of 
Mofes,  was  by  God's  fpecial  command  committed  to 
writing,  which  was  called  the  book  of  the  law,  and  was 
laid  up  in  the  tabernacle,  to  be  kept  there  for  the  ufeof 
the  church;  as  you  may  fee,  Deut.  xxxi.  24.  25.  26. 
VI.  God  was  pleafed  now  wonderfully  to  reprefent 
the  progrefs  of  his  redeemed  church  through  the  worl4 
to  their  eternal  mheritance,  by  the  the  journey  of  the 
children  of  Ifrael  through  tlie  wildernefs,  from  Egypt 
to  Canaan.  Here  all  the  various  fleps  of  the  redemption 
of  the  church  by  Chrift  ^vere  reprefented,  from  the  be- 
ginning to  its  confuinmation  in  glory.  The  ftate  they 
are  redeemed  from  is  reprefented  by  Eg\^pt,  and  their 
bondage  there,  which  they  left.  The  purchafe  of  their 
redemption  v»^as  reprefen-ed  by  the  facrifice  of  the  paf- 
chal  lamb,  which  was  ofifered  up  that  night  that  God 
Hew  all  the  firft-born  of  Egypt.  The  beginning  of  the 
application  of  the  redemption  of  Chrift's  church  in  their 
converfion,  was  reprefented  by  Ifrael's  going  out  of  E- 
gypt,  and  paffing  through  the  Red  Sea  in  fo  extraordi- 
nary and  miraculous  a  manner.  The  travel  of  the 
church  through  this  evil  world,  and  the  various  changes 
through  which  the  churcli  palfes,  in  the  different  fiages 

of 


Part  IV.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     95 

of  it,  was  rcprefcnted  by  the  journey  of  the  Ifraelitea 
through  the  vvildernefs.  T1t€  manner  of  their  being 
conducted  by  Chrift,  was  reprefented  by  the  Ifraelites 
being  led  by  tlie  pillar  of  cloud  by  day,  and  the  pillar 
of  fire  by  night.  The  manner  of  the  church's  being 
fupportcd  in  their  progrefs,  and  fupplied  from  the  be- 
ginning to  the  end  of  it,  with  fpiritual  food,  and  conti- 
nual daily  conmiunications  from  God,  was  reprefented 
by  God's  fupplying  the  children  of  Ifrael  with  bread,  or 
manna,  from  Heaven,  and  water  out  of  the  rock.  The 
dangers  that  the  faints  muft  meet  with  in  their  courfc 
through  the  world,  were  reprefented  by  the  fiery  flying 
ferpents  which  the  children  of  Ifrael  met  with  in  the 
wildernefs.  The  conflifts  the  church  has  with  her  ene- 
mies, were  reprefented  by  the  battle  with  the  Amalek- 
ites,  and  others  they  met  with  there.  And  fo  innume- 
rable other  things  might  be  mentioned,  wherein  the 
things  they  met  with  were  lively  images  of  things  which 
the  church  and  faints  meet  with  in  all  ages  of  the  world. 
That  thefe  things  are  typical  of  things  that  pertain  to 
tlie  Chriflian  church,  is  manifeft  from  1  Cor.  x.  11,. 
*'  Now  all  thefe  things  happened  unto  them  for  enfam^- 
*'  pies,  and  they  were  written  for  our  admonition,  up- 
*'  on  whom  the  ends  of  the  world  are  come."  Here 
the  apoflle  is  fpeaking  of  thofe  very  things  which  we 
have  now  mentioned,  and  he  fays  exprefsly,  that  they 
happened  unto  them  for  types ;  fo  it  is  in  the  original. 
VII.  Another  thing  here  niuft  not  be  omitted,  which 
was  a  great  and  remarkable  difpcnfation  of  Providence, 
refpe6fing  the  whole  v/orld  of  mankind,  which  was  fi- 
nifhed  in  this  period ;  and  that  v/as,  the  fliortening  the 
days  of  man's  life,  whereby  it  was  brought  down  from 
being  between  nine  hundred  and  a  thoufand  years,  to 
be  about  feventy  or  eighty.  The  life  of  man  began 
to  be  fhortcned  immediately  after  the  flood  :  It  was 
brouglit  down  the  firft  generation  to  fix  hundred  years, 
and  the  next  to  between  four  and  five  hundred  years; 
and  fo  the  life  of  man  gradually  grew  fliorter  and  ihort- 
cr,  till  about  the  time  of  the  great  mortality  that  was 
in  the  congregation  of  Ifrael,  after  they  had  murmured 
at  the  report  of  the  fpies,  and  their  carcafes  fell  in  the 
wildernefs,  whereby  all  the  men  of  war  died  ;  and  then 
ikiQ  life  of  man  was  reduced  to  its  prefent  flandard,  as 

Mofes 


96  A  HISTORY    OF  Periodl. 

Mofes  obferves  in  that  pfalm  that  he  wrote  on  occafion 
of  that  mortaUty  :  Pfal.  xc.  lo.  "  The  days  of  our 
"  years  are  threefcore  years  and  ten  ;  and  if  by  rea- 
**  fon  of  ilrength  they  be  fourfcore  years,  vet  is 
*'  their  ftrength  labour  and  forrow :  for  it  is  foon  cut 
"  off,  and  we  fly  away." 

This  great  difpenfation  of  God  tended  to  promote 
the  grand  defign  of  the  redemption  of  Chriil.  Man's 
life  being  cut  fo  very  Ihort  in  this  world,  tended  to 
prepare  the  way  for  poor,  mortal,  fnort-lived  men,  the 
more  joyfully  to  enjoy  the  glad  tidings  of  everlalling 
life  in  another  world,  that  are  brought  to  light  by  the 
gofpel ;  and  more  readily  to  embrace  a  faviour,  that 
purchafes  and  offers  fuch  a  bleffmg.  If  m.ens  lives 
were  ftill  commonly  about  nine  hundred  years,  how 
much  lefs  would  they  have  to  move  them  to  regard  the 
proffers  of  a  future  life  ;  how  much  greater  temptati- 
on would  they  have  to  refl:  in  the  things  of  this  world, 
they  being  of  fuch  long  continuance,  and  to  negle6l 
any  other  life  but  this  ?  This  probably  contributed 
greatly  to  the  wickednefs  of  the  antedeluvians.  But 
now  how  much  greater  motives  have  men  to  feek  re- 
demption, and  a  better  life  than  this,  by  the  great  Re- 
deemer, fmce  the  life  of  man  is  not  one  twelfth  part  of 
what  it  ufed  to  be,  and  men  now  univerfally  die  at  the 
age  when  men  formerly  ufed  to  be  but  as  it  were  fet- 
ting  out  in  the  world. 

VIII.  The  fame  work  was  carried  on  in  preferving 
that  people,  of  whom  Chrift  was  to  come,  from  total- 
ly perifhing  in  the  wildernefs,  by  a  conftant  miracle  of 
forty  years  continuance.  I  obferved  before  many  times, 
how  God  preferved  thofe  of  whom  the  Redeemer  was 
to  proceed  in  a  very  wonderful  manner  ;  as  he  prefer- 
ved Noah  and  his  family  from  the  flood  ;  and  as  he 
preferved  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  with  their  fami- 
lies, from  the  wicked  inhabitants  of  Canaan  ;  and  as 
he  preferved  Jacob  and  his  family  from  perifliing  by 
the  famine,  by  Jofeph  in  Egypt.  But  this  prefervation 
of  the  children  of  Ifrael  for  fo  long  a  time  in  the  wil- 
dernefs, was  on  fome  accounts  more  remarkable  than 
any  of  them  ;  for  it  was  by  a  continual  miracle  of  fo 
long  duration.  There  was,  as  may  be  fairly  computed, 
at  tiift  two  millions  of  fouls  in  that  congregation,  that 

could 


Part  IV.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     07 

could  not  fubfift  any  better  without  meat  and  drink 
than  other  men.  But  if  this  had  been  withheld,  they 
nuilt  all  have  periihed,  every  man,  woman  and  child, 
in  lefs  than  one  month's  time,  io  that  there  w^ould 
not  have  been  one  of  them  left.  But  yet  this  vaft 
multitude  fubfilied  for  forty  years  together,  in  a  dry 
barren  wildernefs,  without  fowing  or  reaping,  or  til- 
ling any  land,  having  their  bread  daily  rained  down  to 
them  out  of  Heaven,  and  being  fuiniihed  with  water  to 
fatiijy  them  all,  out  of  a  rock;  and  the  fame  cloaths 
with  which  they  came  out  of  Egypt,  lafling,  without 
wearing  out  all  that  time.  Never  was  any  mllance  like 
this,  of  a  nation  being  fo  upheld  for  fo  long  a  time  to- 
gether. Thus  God  upheld  his  church  by  a  continual 
miracle,  and  kept  alive  that  people  in  whom  was  the 
blelhng,  the  promifed  feed,  and  great  Redeemer  of  the 
world. 

IX.  God  was  pleafed  in  this  time  of  the  children  of 
IfraeFs  being  in  the  wildernefs,  to  give  a  further  reve- 
lation of  Chrift  the  Redeem.er  in  the  predictions  of  him 
than  had  been  before.  Here  are  tliree  prophecies  given 
at  this  time  that  I  would  take  notice  of.  The  firll  is 
that  of  Balaam,  Numb.  xxiv.  17.  18.  19.  "I  Ihall  fee 
*'  him,  but  not  now ;  I  ihall  behold  him,  but  not  nigh  : 
•'  there  fhall  come  a  Star  out  of  Jacob,  and  a  Sceptre 
*'  fhall  rife  out  of  Ifrael,  and  fliall  fmite  the  corners  of 
*'  Moab,  and  deffroy  all  the  children  of  Sheth.  And 
*'  Edom  fliall  be  a  pofTeflion,  Seir  alfo  fliall  be  a 
"  pofTefTion  for  his  enemies,  and  Ifrael  fliall  do  va- 
•'  liently.  Out  of  Jacob  Ihall  come  he  that  Ihall  have 
"  dominion,  and  fliall  deflroy  him  that  remaineth  of 
*'  the  city."  This  is  a  plainer  prophecy  of  ChriJI,  e- 
fpecially  with  regard  to  his  kingly  office,  than  any  that 
had  been  before.  But  we  have  another,  that  God  gave  by 
Mofes,  that  is  plainer  Itill,  efpecially  with  regard  to  his 
prophetical  ofHce,  in  Deut.  xviii.  18.  &c.  "Twill  raife 
"  up  a  prophet  fjom  among  their  brethren,  like  unto 
*'  thee,  and  will  put  my  words  in  his  mouth,  and  he 
*'  fhall  fpeak  unto  them  all  that  I  cammand  him,"  8cc. 
This  is  a  plainer  propliecy  of  Chrifl  than  any  that  had 
been  before  in  this  refpetl,  that  all  the  prophecies  that  iiad 
becnbefore  of  Chrift  were  in  figurative  myflical  language. 
Tiic  firll  prophecv  was  fo,  That  the  feed  of  tlie  woman. 
K  fliould 


^^  A   HISTORY   OF  Period!. 

fhould  biuife  the  ferpent's  head.  The  prdmifes  made 
to  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  "  That  in  their  feed  all 
"  the  famiUes  of  the  earth  fhould  be  bleffed,"  were  alfo 
myftical ;  which  prophecy  is  not  fo  particular,  becaufe 
the  expreflion,  tky  Jeed,  is  general  and  not  plainly  li- 
mited to  any  particular  perfon.  The  prophecy  of  Ja- 
cob in  bleffing  Judah,  Gen.  xlix.  8.  is  in  myltical  lan- 
guage ;  and  fo  is  that  of  Balaam,  which  fpeaks  of 
Chrift  under  the  figurative  exprelTion  of  3.  Jiar.  But 
this  is  a  plain  prophecy,  wifchout  being  veiled  in  any 
myfiical  language  at  all. 

There  are  feveral  things  contained  in  this  prophecy 
of  Chrifl.     Here  is  his  mediatorial   office  in  general, 
ver.  16.  Here  it  is  revealed  how  he  Ihould  be  a  perfon 
to  fland  between  them  and  God,  that  was  fo  terrible  a 
being,  a   being  of  fuch  awful   majefty,  holinefs,    and 
juftice,  that  they  could  not  have  come  to  him,  and 
have  intercourie  with  him  immediately,  without  a  me- 
diator to  {land  between  them  ;  becaufe,  if  they  came  to 
fuch  a  dreadful  fm  revenging  God   immediately,  they 
fhould  die  ;  God  would  pi  ove  a  confuming  fire  to  them . 
And  then  here  is  a  particular  revelation  of  Chrift  with 
refpeft  to  his  prophetical  office  :  "  I  will  raife  them  up 
"  a  prophet   from  among  their  brethren,    like  unto 
*'  thee,"   &c.     And  further,  it   is  revealed  what  kind 
of  a  prophet  he  fiiould  be,  a  prophet  like  Mofes,  who 
was  the  head   and  leader   of  all  the  people,  and  who, 
under  God,  had  been  their  redeemer,  to  bring  them 
out  of  the  houfe  of  bondage,  was  as  it  were,  their  ffiep- 
herd  by  whom  God  led  them  through  the  Red  Sea  and 
wildernefs,  and  was  an  interceffor  for  them  with  God, 
and  was  both  a  prophet  and  a  king  in  the  congregation  ; 
for  Mofes  had  the  power  of  a  King  among  them.    It  is 
faid  of  him,  Deut.  xxxiii.^.  he  was  king  in  Jefliurun, 
and  he  was  the  prophet  by  whom  God  as  it  were  built 
up  his  church,  and  delivered  his   infiruftions  of  wor- 
fhip.    Thus  Chrift  was  to  be  a  prophet  like  unto  Mo- 
fes ;  fo  that  this  is  both  the  plaineftand  fulleft  prophe- 
cy of  Chrift  that  ever  had  been  from  the  beginning  of 
the  world  to  this  time. 

The  next  prophecy  that  I  fhall  take  notice  of,  re- 
fpe8s  only  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  which  ffiould  be 
after  Chrift's  coming,  of  which  God  gave  a  very  plain 

prophecy 


Part  IV.      The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION. 


99 


prophecy  by  Mofes  in  the  wildernefs,  Deut.  xxxil.  21. 
Here  is  a  very  plain  prophecy  of  the  reje6Hon  of  the 
Jews  and  calhng  the  Gentiles.  They  mo\'ed  God  tQ 
jealoiify,  by  that  which  was  not  a  God,  by  cailing  him 
ofF,  and  taking  other  gods  that  were  no  gods,  in  his 
room.  So  God  declares  that  he  will  move  them  to 
jealonfy  in  the  like  manner,  by  calling  them  off,  and 
taking  other  people,  that  had  not  been  his  people,  in 
their  room.  The  Apolll.e  Paul  takes  notice  of  this 
prpphecy,  as  foretelling  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  ia 
Rom.  X.  19.  20.  "But  I  fay,  Did  not  Ifrael  know  ? 
*'  Firft,  Mofes  faith,  I  will  provoke  you  to  jealoufy  by 
*'  them  that  are  no  people,  and  by  a  foolifli  nation  I 
*'  will  anger  you.  But  Efaias  is  very  bold,  and  faith^ 
*'  I  was  found  of  them  that  fought  me  not ;  I  was  made 
**  manifeft  to  them  that  afked  not  after  me." 

Thus  you  fee  how  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  which  firft 
began  to  dawn  and  glimmer  immediately  after  the  fall, 
gradually  increafes  the  nearpr  we  come  to  Chrilt's 
time. 

X.  Another  thing  by  which  God  carried  on  this 
work  in  this  time,  was  a  remarkable  pouring  out  ot  his 
fpirit  on  the  young  generation  in  the  wildernefs.  The 
generation  that  y»^as  growai  up  when  they  came  out  of 
Egvpt,  from  twenty  years  old  and  upwards,  was  a  very 
froward  and  perverfe  generation.  They  were  tainted 
with  the  idolatry  and  wickednefs  of  Egypt,  and  were  not 
weaned  from  it,  as  the  Prophet  Ezekiel  takes  notice, 
Ezek.  XX.  6.  7.  8.  Hence  they  made  .'  :' golden  calf  in 
imitation  of  the  idolatry  of  Egypt,  that  was  wont  to 
worlhip  a  bull  or  an  ox  ;  and  therefore  cattle  are  called 
the  abomination  of  the  Egyptians,  i,  e.  their  idol.  This 
generation  God  was  exceeding  aiigry  with,  and  fwore 
in  his  wrath,  that  they  fhould  not  enter  into  his  reft. 
But  the  younger  generation  were  not  fo ;  the  genera- 
tion that  were  under  twenty  years  old  when  they  came 
out  of  Eg\'pt,  and  tliofe  that  were  born  in  the  wilder- 
nefs, the  generation  fpolien  of  Numb.  xiv.  31.  "  But 
*'  your  little  ones,  whom  ye  faid  Ihonld  be  a  prey,  them 
*'  will  I  bring  in ;  and  they  fhall  know  the  land  that 
"  yc  have  defpifed."  This  was  the  generation  with 
%vhom  the  covenant  was  renewed,  as  we  have  an  ac- 
count in  Deuteronomy,  and  that  entered  into  the  land 
K3  of    ^ 


loo  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  I. 

of  Canaan.  This  generation  God  was  pleafed  to  make 
a  generation  to  his  praife,  and  they  were  eminent  for 
piety ;  as  appears  by  many  things  faid  in  fcriptnre  about 
them;  as,  particularly,  Jer.  ii.  2.  3.  "I  remember  thee, 
*'  the  kindnefs  of  thy  youth,  the  love  of  thine  efpoufals, 
•'  when  thou  wenteft  after  me  in  the  wildernefs,  in  a 
*'  land  that  was  not  fown.  Ifrael  was  holinefs  to  the 
*'  Lord,  and  thefirft  fruits  of  his  increafe."  Here  the 
generation  that  went  after  God  in  the  wildernefs,  is 
Jpoken  of  with  very  high  commendations,  as  eminent 
ior  holinefs  :  "  Ifrael  was  holinefs  to  the  Lord,  and 
*'  the  firft  fruits  of  his  increafe.  And  their  love  to 
God  is  fpoken  of  as  diflinguiflied  like  the  love  of  a  bride 
at  her  efpoufals.  The  going  after  God  in  the  wilder- 
nefs that  is  here  fpoken  of,  is  not  the  going  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Ifrael  out  of  Eg)'pt  into  the  wildernefs  of  Sinai, 
but  their  following  God  through  that  dreadful  wilder- 
riels  that  the  congregation  long  wandered  in,  after 
tliey  went  back  from  Kadefh-Barnea,  v/hich  is  fpoken 
of  Deut.  viii.  1^.  "  Who  led  thee  through  the  great 
*'  and  terrible  wildernefs,  wherein  were  fiery  ferpents 
*'  and  fcorpians,  and  drought,  where  there  was  no 
"  v/ater."  Though  this  generation  had  a  m.uch  greater 
trial,  than  the  generation  of  their  fathers  had  before 
they  cam.e  to  Kadefh-Barnea,  yet  they  never  murmured 
againfl  God  in  any  wife,  as  their  fiithers  had  done  :  but 
their  trials  had  a  contrarv  effetl:  upon  them,  to  awaken 
thein,  convince,  and  humble  them,  and  lit  them  for 
great  mercy.  They  were  awakened  by  thofe  awful 
judgmeiius  of  God  that  he  inFuHed  on  their  fathers, 
whereby  their  carcafes  fell  in  the  wildernefs.  And 
God  poured  out  his  fpirit  with  thofe  awakening  pro- 
vidences towards  their  fathers,  and  tlieir  own  travel  in 
the  wildernefs,  and  the  word  preached  to  them  by  Mo- 
ics ;  v/hereby  they  were  greatly  awakened,  and  made 
to  fee  the  badnefs  of  tlieir  own  hearts,  and  were  hum- 
bl-Td,  and  at  length  multitudes  of  them  favingly  con- 
verted ;  as  Deut.  viii.  2.3.  "  And  thou  fhalt  remem- 
*'  ber  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God  led  thee 
*'  thefe  forty  years  in  the  wildernefs,  to  humble  thee, 
"  and  to  prove  thee,  to  know  what  was  in  thine 
**  heart,  whether  thou  wouldfl  keep  his  command- 
"  nienls,  or  no.     And  he  hunibled  tliee,"  &c.     And 

verf. 


Part  IV.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION,     loi 

verf.  15.  "  Who  led  thee  through  the  great  and  terri- 
**  ble  wildernefs, — that  he  might  humble  thee,  and  that 
*'  he  might  prove  thee,  to  do  thee  good  at  thy  latter 
*'  end."  And  therefore  it  is  faid,  Hof.  xiii.5.  "  I  did 
*'  know  thee  in  the  wildernefs,  in  the  land  of  great 
*'  drought."  God  allured  them,  and  brought  them  in- 
to that  wildernefs,  and  fpake  comfortably  to  them,  as 
it  was  foretold   that  he  would  do  afterwards,  Hofea, 

I'hofe  terrible  judgments  that  were  executed  in  the 
congregation  after  their  turning  back  from  Kadefii- 
Barnea,  in  the  matter  of  Korah,  and  the  matter  of 
Peor,  were  chiefly  on  the  old  generation,  whom  God 
confumed  in  the  v/ildernefs.  Thofe  rebellions  were 
chiefly  among  the  elders  of  the  congregation,  who  were 
of  the  older  generation,  that  God  had  given  up  to  their 
hearts  lull;  and  they  walked  in  their  own  counfels, 
and  God  was  grieved  with  their  manners  forty  years 
in  the  wildernefs. 

But  that  this  younger  congregation  were  eminent  for 
piety,  appears  by  all  their  hifl:ory.  The  former  gene- 
ration were  wicked,  and  were  followed  with  curfes  ; 
but  this  was  holy,  and  wonderful  bleflTmgs  followed 
them.  God  did  great  things  for  them  ;  he  fought  for 
tliem,  and  gave  them  the  poffeflion  of  Canaan.  And 
it  is  God's  manner,  when  he  hath  veiy^  great  mercies  to 
beflow  on  a  vifible  people,  firfl;,  to  fit  them  for  them, 
and  then  to  beflow  them  on  them.  So  it  was  here : 
.  They  believed  in  God,  and  by  faith  overcame  Sihon 
and  Og,  and  the  giants  of  Canaan  ;  and  are  cornm_end- 
ed  for  cleaving  to  the  Lord  :  Joflj.  xxiii.  8.  Jofhua  fays 
unto  them,  "  Cleave  unto  the  Lord,  as  ye  have  done 
"  unto  this  day."  And  fo  Ifrael  did  all  the  while  that 
generation  lived.  But  when  Jofliua  and  all  that  gene- 
ration were  dead,  there  arofe  another  generation  that 
knew  not  the  Lord.  This  pious  generation  Ihowed  a 
laudable  and  fervent  zeal  for  God  on  fevcral  occaflons  ; 
on  occafion  of  Achan's  fm  ;  but  efpecially  when  they 
fufpe6fed  the  two  tribes  and  a  half  had  fet  up  an  altar 
in  oppofition  to  the  altar  of  burnt-offering.  There  ne- 
ver was  any  generation  of  Ifrael  that  fo  much  good  and 
fo  little  evil  is  mentioned  of,  as  this  generation.  It  is 
further  obfcrveable,  that  in  the  time  of  this  generation 

was 


102  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  L 

was  the  fecond  general  circumcifion,  whereby  the  re- 
proach of  Ifiael  was  fully  rolled  away,  and  they  became 
pure ;  and  \vhen  afterwards  they  were  polluted  by  A- 
chan,  they  purged  themfelves  again. 

The  men  of  the  former  generation  being  dead,  and 
God  having  fan6lified  this  younger  generation  to  him- 
felf,  he  folcmnly  renewed  his  covenant  with  them,  as 
we  have  a  particular  account  in  the  29th  chapter  of 
Deuteronomy.  We  find  that  fuch  folemn  renovations 
of  the  covenant  commonly  accompanied  any  remarka- 
ble pouring  out  of  the  Spirit^  caufing  a  general  reforma- 
tion :  So  we  find  it  was  in  Hezekiah'3  and  Jofiah's 
times.  It  is  queftionable  whether  there  ever  was  a 
time  of  fo  great  a  flourifiiing  of  religion  in  the  Ifraelitifti 
church,  as  in  that  generations  and  as,  in  tlie  Chriftian 
church,  religion  was  in  its  moHflourifhingcircumftan- 
ces  in  the  day  of  its  efpoufals,  or  firft  fetting  up  of  that 
church,  in  the  days  of  the  appftles,  fo  it  feems  to  have 
been  with  the  Jewifh  church  in  the  days  of  its  firft 
eftablifhment  in  Mofes's  and  J.ofhua's  times. 

Thus  God  at  this  time  did  glorioufly  advance  the 
work  of  redemption,  both  by  his  word  and  Spirit.  By 
this  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  the  work  of  re- 
demption was  promoted,  not  only  as  it  was  in  itfelf  a 
glorious  inftance  of  the  carrying  on  of  that  redemption 
in  the  application  of  it,  but  as  this  was  v/hat  God  made 
ufe  of  as  a  means  of  the  good  and  orderly  eftablifhment 
of  the  church  of  IfVael  at  its  firft  beginning,  when  it  was 
firft  fettled  in  the  regular  obfervance  of  God's  ordi- 
nances in  Canaan  :  even  as  the  pouring  out  of  the  Spi- 
rit, in  the  beginning  of  the  Chriftian  church,  was  a 
great  means  God  made  ufe  of  for  the  well  eftablifhing 
the  Chriftian  church  in  the  world  in  all  fucceeding  ages. 

XL  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve,  was  God's 
bringing  the  people  of  Ifrael  under  the  hand  of  Jofhua, 
and  fettling  them  in  that  land  where  Chrift  was  to  be 
born,  and  which  was  the  great  type  of  the  heav^enly  Ca- 
naan, which  Chrift  has  purchafed.  This  was  done  by  Jo- 
ihiia,  who  was  of  }ofe])h's  pofterity,  and  was  an  eminent 
type  of  Chrift,  and  is  therefore  called  the  ftiepherd,  the 
ftone  of  Ifrael,  in  Jacob's  blefling  of  Jofeph,  Gen.  xlix. 
24.  Being  fuch  a  type  of  Chrift,  he  bore  the  name  of 
ChrilL  jofnua  Scj^jiis  are  the  fame  name,  only  the  one  is 

Hebr?^Y 


Part  IV.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION,     lo^ 

Hebrew,  the  other  is  Greek ;  and  therefore,  in  the 
New  Teflament,  which  was  originally  written  in  Greek, 
Jofhua  is  called  Jcfus,  A6ls  vii.  4^.  "  Which  alfo  our 
*'  fathers  brought  in  with  Jefus,"  i.  e.  Jolhua;  Heb.  iv. 
8.  "  If  Jefus  had  given  them  reft,  he  would  not  have 
"  fpoken  of  another  day  ;"  i,  e.  if  Jolhua  had  given 
them  reft. 

God  wonderfully  pofTeffed  his  people  of  this  land, 
conquering  the  former  inhabitants  of  it,  and  the  mighty 
giants,  as  Chrift  conquered  the  devil ;  firlf  conquering 
the  great  kings  of  that  part  of  the  land  that  was  on  the 
eaftern  fide  of  Jordan,  Sihon  king  of  the  Amorites, 
and  Og  king  of  Balhan ;  and  then  dividing  the  river 
Jordan,  as  before  he  had  done  the  Red  Sea,  caufmgthe 
walls  of  Jericho  to  fall  down  at  the  found  of  the  trum- 
pets of  the  priefts  ;  that  found  typifying  the  found  of 
the  gofpel  by  the  preaching  of  gofpel-minifters,  the 
walls  of  the  accurfed  city  of  Jericho  fignifying  the  walls 
of  Satan's  kingdom ;  and  after  this  wonderfully  deftroy- 
ing  the  mighty  hoft  of  the  Amorites  under  the  five 
kings,  caufmg  the  fun  and  moon  to  ftand  Hill,  to  help 
the  people  againft  their  enemies,  at  the  prayer  of  the 
typical  Jefus ;  plainly  holding  this  forth,  that  God 
would  make  the  whole  courfe  of  nature  to  be  fubfervi- 
ent  to  the  affair  of  redemption ;  fo  that  every  thing 
fhould  yield  to  the  purpofes  of  that  work,  and  give  place 
to  the  welfare  of  God's  redeemed  people. 

Thus  did  Chrift  fhow  his  great  love  to  his  eleQ,  that 
he  would  make  tlie  courfe  of  nature,  in  the  frame  of 
the  world,  that  he  had  made,  and  that  he  governed,  to 
give  place  to  their  happinefs  and  profperity  ;  and  fhow- 
ed  that  the  fun  and  moon,  and  all  things,  vifible  and 
invifible,  were  theirs  by  his  purchafe.  At  the  fame 
time,  Chrift  fought  as  the  captain  of  their  hoft,  and  caft 
iloWn  great  hailftones  upon  their  enemies,  by  which 
more  were  (lain  than  by  the  fword  of  the  children  of 
Ifrael.  And  after  this  Chrift  ga\'e  the  people  a  mighty 
viftory  over  a  yet  greater  army  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  land,  that  were  gathered  together  at  the  waters  of  Me- 
rom,  as  the  farid  of  the  fea-fhore,  as  it  is  faid  Jofh.  xi.  4. 

Thus  God  gave  the  people  whence  Chrilt  was  to  pro- 
ceed, the  land  where  he  was  to  be  born,  and  li\e,  and 
preach,  and  work  miracles,  and  die,  and  rile  again,  and 

Avhencc 


104  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Period  I, 

whence  he  was  to  afcend  into  heaven,  as  the  land 
which  was  a  great  type  of  heaven  :  which  is  anofher 
thing  whereby  a  great  advance  was  made  in  the  affair 
of  redemption. 

XII.  Another  thing  that  God  did  towards  carrying 
on  this  affan-,  was  his  attiiahy  fetting  up  a  ilated  wor- 
ihip  among  the  people,  as  it  had  been  before  inftituted. 
in  the  wildernefs.  This  worlhip  was  appointed  at  Mount 
Sinai,  wholly  in  fubferviency  to  this  great  affair  of  re- 
demption. It  was  to  make  way  for  the  coming  of 
Chrift ;  and  the  innumerable  ceremonial  obfervances  of 
it  were  typical  of  him  and  his  redemption.  This  wor- 
fhip  was  chiefly  inftituted  at  Mount  Sinai  ;  but  it  was 
gradually  fet  up  in  pra6Hce.  It  was  partly  fet  up  in 
the  wildernefs,  where  the  tabernacle  and  its  vefTels  were 
made;  but  there  were  many  parts  of  their  inilituted 
worfhip  that  could  not  be  obferved  in  the  wildernefs, 
by  reafon  of  their  unfettled,  itinerant  ftate  there  :  and 
then  there  were  many  precepts  that  refpeci  the  land  of 
Canaan,  and  their  cities  and  places  of  habitation  there; 
which  therefore  could  not  be  put  in  praftice,  till  they 
came  into  that  land.  But  now,  when  this  was  brought 
to  pafs,  God  fet  up  his  tabernacle  in  the  midft  of  his 
people,  as  he  had  before  promifed  them,  Lev.  xxvi.  ii. 
**  I  will  fet  my  tabernacle  amongft  you."  The  taber- 
nacle was  fet  up  at  Shiloh,  Jofh.  xviii.  i.  and  the 
priefls  and  Levites  had  their  offices  appointed  them, 
and  the  cities  of  refuge  were  appointed  ;  and  now -the 
people  were  in  a  condition  to  obferve  their  feafts  of  the 
firft  fruits,  and  their  feafls  of  in-gathering,  and  to  bring 
all  their  tithes  and  appointed  offerings  to  the  Lord ; 
and  moft  parts  of  God's  worlhip  were  fet  up,  though 
there  were  fome  things  that  were  not  obferved  till  af- 
terwards. 

XIII.  The  next  thing  I  woi'ld  take  notice  of,  was 
God's  wonderfully  preferving  that  people,  from  this 
time  for^ward,  when  all  the  males  went  up,  three  times 
in  the  year,  to  the  place  where  God's  ark  was.  The 
people  of  Ifrael  were  generally  furrounded  with  encmaes, 
that  fought  all  opportunities  to  dcflroy  them,  and  difpof- 
lefs  them  of  their  land;  and  till  David's  time  there  were 
great  numbers  in  the  land  of  the  remains  of  the  Canaan- 
ites,  and  the  oiher  former  inliabitauts  of  the  land,  that 

were 


Part  IV.    The  Work  of  REDExMPTICN.    10.3 

were  bitter  enemies  to  ilie  peo^)le  of  Ifrael  :  and  thefo 
had  tVom  year  to  year,  ihiee  limes  in  tlie  year,  a  lair 
opportunity  of  over-running  their  country,  and  get.ing 
poilellion  of  their  cities,  when  all  the  males  were  gone, 
and  only  the  women,  and  thofe  who  were  not  able  to 
go  up,  were  left  behind.  And  )'et  they  were  remark- 
ably preferved  throughout  all  generations  at  fuch  fca- 
fons,  agreeable  to  tlic  promiic  that  God  had  made, 
Exod.  xxxiv.  24.  "  Neither  Ihall  any  man  defire  thy 
"  land,  when  thou  flialt  go  up  to  appear  before  the 
"  Lord  thy  God  thrice  in  the  year."  So  wonderfully 
did  God  order  affairs,  and  infl-.'.ence  the  hears  of  their 
enemies,  that  though  they  weie  fo  full  of  enmity  againfl 
Ifracl,  and  defired  to  diipoifcfs  them  of  their  land,  and 
had  fo  fdir  an  opportunity  fo  often  in  their  hands,  that 
the  whole  country  was  left  naked  and  empty  of  all  that 
could  rehfl  them,  and  it  would  have  been  only  for 
them  to  have  gone  and  taken  pofTjjfTion,  and  they  could 
have  had  it  without  oppofition,  and  diey  were  fo  eager 
to  take  other  opportunities  againft  them  ;  yet  we  never 
read,  in  all  their  hiltory,  of  any  of  their  enemies  taking 
thcfe  opportunities  againft  them ;  wdiich  could  be  no 
lefs  than  a  continual  miracle,  that  God,  for  the  prefer- 
vation  of  his  church,  kept  up  for  fo  many  generations, 
even  throughout  the  ages  of  the  Old  Teltament.  It 
was  furely  a  wonderful  difpenfation  of  divine  provi- 
dence to  maintain  and  promote  God's  great  defign  of 
redemption. 

XIV.  God's  prefervinghis  church  and  the  true  reli- 
gion from  being  wholly  extinft  in  the  frequent  apofla- 
lies  of  the  Ifraelites  in  the  time  of  the  judges.  How 
prone  was  that  people  to  forfake  the  true  God,  that  had 
done  fuch  wonderful  things  for  them,  and  to  fall  into 
idolatr)'  !  And  how  did  the  land,  from  time  to  time, 
leem  to  be  almoft  over-run  with  idolatry  i  But  yet  God 
never  fufFered  his  true  worfhipto  be  totally  rooted  out: 
his  tabernacle  flood,  the  ark  was  preferved,  the  book  of 
the  law  was  kept  from  being  deftroyed,  God's  prieft- 
hood  was  upheld,  and  God  flill  had  a  church  among 
the  people ;  and  time  after  time,  when  religion  feemed 
to  be  almoft  gone,  and  it  was  come  to  the  laft  extremitv, 
then  God  granted  a  revival,   and  fent  fome  angel  or 

L  prophet, 


io6  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   or  Period  I.. 

prophet,  or  raifed  iip'  fome  eminent  perfon  to  be  an  in- 
flramcnt  of  their  reformation. 

XV.  God's  prcferving  that  nation  from  being  deilroy- 
ed,  and  delivering  them  from  time  to  time,  although 
they  were  fo  often  fubdued  and  brought  under  the  do- 
minion of  their  enemies^  It  is  a  wonder,  not  only  that 
the  true  religion  was  not  wholly  rooted  out,  and  fo  the 
€hurch  dellroyed  tliat  way ;  but  alfo  that  the  very  na- 
tion in  which  that  church  was-,  was  not  utterly  deftroy- 
ed ;  they  were  fo  often  brought  under  the  povrer  of 
their  enemies.  One  while  they  were  ful  dusd  bv  Chu- 
fhan-rilhataim  king  of  Mefopotamia,  another  while  they 
were  brought  under  the  Moabites  ;  and  then  they  zoere 

fold  into  the  hand  of  Jabin  king  of  Canaan  ;  and  then 
they  were  under  the  dominion  of  the  Midianites ;  and 
then  were  forely  diftreffed  by  the  children  of  Ammon  ; 
and  then  by  the  Philiilines.  But  yet  God,  in  all  tiiefe 
dangers,  preferved  them,  and  kept  them  from  being 
wholly  overthroAvn  :  and  from  time  to  time,  when  it 
\vas  come  to  extremit)%  and  God  faw  tliat  they  were  up- 
on the  veiy  brink  of  ruin,  then  God  raifed  up  a  deli- 
verer, agreeable  to  Deut.  xxxii.  36.  "  For  the  Lord 
"  fliajl  judge  his  people^  and  repent  himfelf  for  his  fer- 
*'  vants ;  when  he  feeth  their  pov/er  is  gone,  and  there 
*'  is  none  fliut  up  or  left." 

Thofe  remarkable  difpenfations  of  Providence  are 
very  livelily  and  elegantly  fet  forth  by  the  Pfalmift, 
Pfal.  cvi.  34.  &c. 

Thefe  deliverers  that  God  raifed  up  from  time  to 
time  were  all  types  of  Chrift,  the  great  redeemer  and 
deliverer  of  his  church ;  and  fome  of  them  very  re- 
markably fo ;  as,  particularly,  Barak,  Jephthah,  Gide- 
on, and  Sampfon,  in  very  many  particulars  •  and  above 
all  in  the  afts  of  Samfon,  as  might  be  fhown,  were  it 
not  that  this  would  take  up  too  much  time. 

XVI.  It  is  obfervablc,  that  when  Ghrift  appeared  to 
manage  the  affairs  of  his  church  in  this  period,  he  often 
appeared  in  the  foira  of  that  nature  that  he  took  upon 
him  in  his  incarnation.  So  he  feems  to  have  appeared 
to  Mofes  from  time  to  time,  and  particularly  at  that 
time  wlien  God  fpake  to  him  face  to  face,  as  a  man 
fpeaketh  to  his  friend,  and  he  beheld  the  fimilitude  of 
the  Lord  (Numb.  xii.  8.)  after  he  had  befoughtiura  to 

ihow 


?m  IV.     The  WoRr.  of  REDEMPTION.     107 

fliow  him  his  glory ;  which  was  the  moft  remarkable 
vifion  that  ever  he  had  of  Chrift.     lliere  was  a  twofold 
difcovery  that  Moles  had  of  Clirifl :  one  was  fpiritual, 
made  to  his  mind,   by  the   word  that  was  proclaimed, 
when  he  proclaimed  his  name,  faying,  "  The  Lord,  the 
"  Lord  Qod,  merciful  and  gracious,  long-fuffering,  and 
*'  abundant  in  goodncfs  and  truth,  keeping  mercy  for 
*'  thoufands,  forgiving  iniquity   and  tranlgreffion   and 
*'  fin,  and  that  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty;  vifit- 
*'  iug  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the  childien,  and 
"  upon  the  childrens  children)  unto  the  third  and  to  tlie 
*'  fourth  generation;"  Exod.  xxxiv.  6.  &:c.     Another 
was  external ;  which  was  that  which  Mofes  faw,  when 
Chrifl  palled  by,   and  pm  him  in  a  cleft  of  the  rock, 
and  covered  him  with  his  hand,  fo  that  Mofes  faw  his 
back-parts.     What  he  h\v  ^v^s  doubtlcfs  the  back-part§ 
of  a  glorious  human  form,  in  which  Chrift  appeared  to 
him,  and  in  all  likelihood  the  form  of  his  glorified  hu- 
man nature,  in  which  he  (liould  afterwards  appear.    He 
faw  not  his  face ;  for  it  is  not  to  be  fuppofed  that  any 
man  could  fubfift  under  a  fight  of  the  glory  of  Chrifl's 
human  nature  as  it  now  appears. 

So  it  was  an  human  form  in  which  Chrill  appeared 
to  the  feventy  elders,  of  whicli  we  have  an  account,  Ex- 
od. xxiv.  9.  10.  1 1.  "  Then  went  up  Mofes  and  Aaron, 
•'  Na.dab  and  Abihu,  and  feventy  of  the  elders  of  Ifraeh. 
"  And  they  faw  the  God  of  Ifraei :  and  there  was  un-. 
♦'  der  his  feet,  as  it  were  a  paved-work  of  fapphire-llone, 
"  and  as  it  were  the  body  of  heaven  in  his  clcarnefs. 
*'  And  upon  the  nobles  of  the  children  of  Ifraei  belaid 
*'  not  his  hand  :  alfo  they  fa'w   God  and  did  eat  and 
*'  drink."     So  Chrift  appeared  afterwards  to  Tofl^.uaiii 
the  form  of  the  human  nature,  Joih.  v.  13,  14.  "  And 
*'  it  came  to  pafs  when  Jodiua  was  bv  Jericho,  he  lift 
*'  up  his  eyes,  and  looked,  and  behold  there  flood  ainan 
*'  over  againft  him,  with  his  fword  drawn  in  his  hand  : 
*'  and  Jolhua  went  unto  him,  and  faid  un<o  him,  Art 
*'  thou  for  us  or  for  our  adverfaries  ?  And  he  faid.  Nay, 
"  but  as  captain  of  the  hoft  of  the  Lord   am  i  now 
"  come."     And  fo  he  appeared  to  Gideon,  Judg.  vi.^ 
11.    occ.   and  fo  alfo  to  Manoah,  Judg.  xiii.  17. — 21. 
Here  Chrift  appeared  to  Manoah,  in  a  reprefentation 
both  of  his  incarnation  and  death;  of  his  incarnaiion^ 
L  2,  in 


io8  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Period  L 

in  that  he  aprcared  in  a  hiiman  form  ;  and  of  his 
c^eath  and  fnfFerino;s,  reprefenied  by  the  faciifice  of  a 
J-.id,  and  by  his  afcending  up  in  the  flame  of  the  facri- 
fice  ;  intimating,  that  it  was  he  that  was  thegrcit  facri- 
fice  tha^  mi  ill  be  offered  up  to  God  for  a  fwee  favour, 
in  the  fire  of  his  wrath,  as  that  kid  was  burned  and  a- 
fcend.^d  up  in  the  flame.  Chrift  thiis  appeared,  time 
after  time,  in  the  form  of  that  nature  he  was  afterwards 
to  take  upon  him  ;  becaufe  he  now  appeared  on  the 
fame  defign,  and  to  carry  on  the  fame  work,  that  he 
was  to  appear  in  that  nature  to  work  out  and  carry  on. 

X\^II.  Another  thing  I  would  mention,  done  in  this 
period  rowards  the  work  of  redemption,  is  the  begin- 
ning of  a  faccefTion  of  prophets,  and  ereding  a  fchool 
oi  the  prop!)ets,  in  Samuel's  time.  There  was  fome- 
thing  of  ihis  fpirit  of  prophecy  in  ITrael  after  Mofes, 
before  S::muel.  Jofhu.a  and  many  of  the  Judges  had  a 
(i<:gree  of  it.  Deborah  was  a  prophe^efs  ;  and  fome  of 
the  high-prieils  were  infpired  with  this  fpirit  ;  particu- 
l.idy  E!i :  and  that  fpace  of  time  was  not  wholly  with- 
out inffances  of  thofe  that  were  fet  apart  of  God  efpe- 
cially  to  this  oTiice,  and  fo  wc  e  called  prophets.  Such 
an  one  we  read  of,  Ji'dg.  vi.  8.  "  The  Lord  fent  a  pro- 
*'  phet  unto  the  children  of  Ifrael,  which  faid  unto 
*'  them,"  &c.  Such  an  one  he  feems  to  have  been 
that  we  read  of,  i.  Sam.  ii.  27,  "  And  there  came  a 
*'  nan  of  God  to  Eh,"  &c. 

But  there  was  no  fu.ch  order  of  men  upheld  in  Ifrael 
for  any  conilancy,  before  Samuel ;  the  want  of  it  is  ta- 
ken no!ice  of  in  1.  Sam.  iii.  1.  "  And  the  word  of  the 
*'  Lord  was  precious  in  thofe  days ;  there  was  no  open 
*'  vifion."  But  in  Samuel  there  was  begun  a  fuccefTion 
of  prophets,  that  was  maintained  continually  from  that 
time,  at  lead  with  very  little  interruption,  till  the  fpi- 
rit of  prophecy  ceafed,  about  M  jlachi\«  time:  and  there- 
fore Samuel  is  fpoken  of  in  the  New  Teftament  as  the 
beginning  of  this  fuccefhon  of  prophets,  AFts  iii.  24. 
*'  And  all  the  prophets  from  Samuel,  and  thofe  that 
**  follow  after,  as  many  as  have  fpoken,  have  foretold 
*'  of  thefe  days."  After  Samuel  was  Nathan,  and  Gad, 
and  Iddo,  and  Heman,  and  ATaph,  and  others.  And 
af  erwards,  in  the  la'fer  end  of  Solomon's  reiG;n,  we  read 
of  Aliijah  ;  and  in  Jereboam  and  Relioboiim's  time  we 


Part  IV.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     109 

read  of  prophets ;  and  fo  continiialiy  one  prophet  fic- 
cecded  another,  till  the  captivity.  We  read  in  the  wri- 
tings of  thofe  prophets  that  arc  infertcd  into  the  canon ; 
of  the  fcriptures,  of  prophets  as  heing  a  conflant  order 
of  men  npheld  in  the  land  in  thofc  days :  and  in  the 
time  of  the  captivity  there  were  prophets  fiill,  as  Eze- 
kiel  and  Daniel ;  and  after  the  captivity  there  were  pro.- 
phets,  as  Zechariah,  Haggai,  and  Malachi. 

And  becaufe  God  intended  a  confiant  fuccefTion  of 
prophets  from  Samuers  time,  therefore  in  his  time  was 
begun  a  fchool  of  the  prophets  ;  that  is,  a  fchool  of 
)'oung  men,  that  were  trained  up  under  fom.e  great  pro- 
]ihet,  who  was  their  mafter  and  teacher  in  the  ftudy  of 
divine  things,  and  the  praflice  of  holinefs,  to  fit  them 
for  this  office  as  God  Ihould  call  them  to  it.  Thofe 
young  men  that  belonged  to  thefe  fchcols,  were  called 
the  fans  of  the  prophets  \  and  oftentimes  they  are  called 
prophets.  Thefe  at  fnft  were  under  the  tuition  of  Sa- 
muel. Thus  we  read  of  Samuel's  being  appointed  over 
them,  1.  Sam.  xix.  20.  *'And  when  they  faw  the  com- 
"  pany  of  prophets  prophefying,  and  Samuel  flanding 
*'  as  appoinied  over  them."  The  company  of  prophets 
that  we  read  of  1  Sam.  x.5.  were  th.e  famic.  Afterwards 
\v'e  read  of  their  being  under  Elijah.  Elifha,  was  one  of 
his  fons ;  but  he  defired  to  have  a  double  portion  of  his 
fpirit,  as  his  fucceffor,  as  hisfirfl-born,  as  the  eldefl  fon 
was  wont  to  have  a  double  portion  of  the  eflate  of  his 
father ;  and  therefore  the  fons  of  the  prophets,  when 
they  perceived  that  the  fpirit  of  Elijah  reftedon  Elifiia, 
fubmitted  themfelves  to  him,  and  owned  him  for  their 
mafter,  as  they  had  done  Elijah  before  him ;  as  you 
may  fee,  2  Kings  ii.  15.  "And  when  tlie  fons  of  the 
"  prophets  which  were  to  view  at  Jericho,  faw  him, 
"  they  faid.  The  fpirit  of  Elijah  doth  reft  on  Elinia.  And 
*'  they  bowed    themfelves  to  the  ground  before  liim." 

And  fo  after  this  Elifha  was  their  mafter  or  teacher; 
he  had  the  care  and  inftruftion  of  them  as  you  may 
fee,  2  Kings  i v.  38.  "And  Eliflia  came  again  to  Gilgal, 
"  and  there  was  a  dearth  in  the  land,  and  the  fons  of 
•'  the  prophets  were  fitting  before  him  :  and  he  faid  \m- 
"  to  his  fervant.  Set  on  the  great  pot,  and  feethe  pot- 
"  tage  for  the  fons  of  the  prophets."  In  Elijah's  and 
Xlilha's  time,  there  were  feveral  places  where  there  re- 

fided 


lio  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  I. 

fided  companies  of  thefc  fons  of  the  prophets ;  as  there 
was  one  at  Bethel,  and  another  at  Jericho,  and  ano- 
'ther  at  Gilgal,  unlefs  that  at  Gilgal  and  Jericho  were 
the  fame :  and  poflibly  that  which  is  called  the  college, 
where  the  prophetefs  Huldah  refided,  was  another  at  Je- 
sriiralem  ;  fee  2  Kings  xxii.  1.4.  It  is  there  faid  of  Hul- 
dah the  prophetefs,  that  "  fhe  dwelt  in  Jerufalem,  in  the 
"  college."  They  had  houfes  built,  where  they  ufed  to 
dwell  together;  and  therefore  thofe  at  Jericho  being 
multiplied,  and  finding  their  houfc  too  little  for  them, 
dehred  leave  of  their  mafler  and  teacher  Elifha,  that 
they  might  go  and  hew  timber  to  build  a  bigger ;  as 
you  may  fee-,  2  Kings  vi.  1.  2. 

At  fome  times  there  were  numbers  of  thefe  fons  of 
the  prophets  in  Ifrael ;  for  when  Jezebel  cut  off  the 
prophets  of  the  Lord,  it  is  faid,  that  Obadiah  took  an 
iiundred  of  them,  and  hid  them  by  fifty  in  a  cave, 
1  Kings  xviii.  4. 

Thefe  fchools  of  the  prophets  being  fet  up  by  Samuel, 
and  afterwards  kept  up  by  fuch  great  prophets  as  Eli- 
jah and  Elilha,  muft  be  of  divine  appointment ;  and  ac- 
cordingly we  find,  that  thofe  fons  of  the  prophets  were 
often  favour&d  with  a  degree  of  infpiration,  while  they 
continued  under  tuition  in  the  fchools  ©rthe  prophets; 
find  God  commonly,  when  he  called  any  prophet  to  the 
conftant  exercife  of  the  prophetical  office,  and  to  fome 
extraordinary  fervice,  took  them  out  of  thefe  fchools  ; 
though  not  univerfally.  Hence  the  prophet  Amos, 
fpeaking  of  his  being  called  to  the  prophetical  office, 
lays,  that  he  was  one  that  had  not  been  educated  in  the 
fchools  of  the  prophets,  and  was  not  one  of  tlie  fons  of 
the  prophets,  Amos  vii.  14.  15.  But  Amos's  taking  no- 
tice of  it  as  remarkable,  that  he  fhould  be  called  to  be 
a  prophet  that  had  not  been  educated  at  the  fchools  of 
the  prophets,  fhows  that  it  was  God's  ordinary  man- 
ner to  take  his  prophets  out  of  thefe  fchools  ;  for  there- 
in be  did  but  blefs  his  own  inllitution. 

Now  this  remarkable  difpenfation  of  providence  that 
we  are  upon,  viz.  God's  beginning  a  conftant  fucceffion 
of  prophets  in  Samuel's  time,  that  was  to  laft  for  many 
ages ;  and  to  that  end,  ellabliffiing  a  fcliool  of  the  pro- 
phets under  Samuel,  thenceforward  to  be  continued  in 
Ifrael,  was  a  Itep  that  God  took  in  that  great  affair  of 

redemption 


Part  IV.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION,     m 

redemption  that  we  are  upon.  For  the  mani  bufinefsof 
this  fuccefiion  of  prophets  was,  to  forefliow  Chrifl,  and 
the  glorious  recleiii])tion  that  he  was  to  accompiiih,  and 
fo  to  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming  ;  as  appears  by  that 
forementioned  place,  Afts  iii.  24.  and  by  Acts  x.  43, 
*'  To  hi Ti  give  all  the  prophets  witnefs;"  and  by  Acts 
iii.  18.  "But  thofe  things  which  God  before  had  fliew- 
*'  ed  by  the  mouth  of  all  his  prophets,  that  Chriit 
"  fhould  fuffer,  he  hath  fo  fulfilled." 

A^s  I  obferved  before,  the  Old  Teftament  time  was 
like  a  time  of  night,  wherein  the  church  was  not  wholly 
without  liglit,  but  had  not  the  light  of  the  Sun  dire6tl)', 
but  as  reflecled  from  the  ftars.  Now  thefe  prophets 
were  the  ftars  that  reflefted  the  light  of  the  Sun  ;  and 
accordingly  they  fpoke  abundantly  of  Jefus  Chriff,  as 
appears  by  what  we  have  of  their  prophecies  in  writing. 
And  they  made  it  very  much  tlieir  bufmefs,  when  tliey 
iludied  in  their  fchools  or  colleges,  and  eltewhere,  to 
fearch  out  the  work  of  redemption  ;  agreeable  to  what 
the  apoftle  Peter  fays  of  them,  1  Pet.  i.  10.  11.  "Of 
*'  which  faivation  the  prophets  have  enquired,  and 
■'  fearched  diligently,  who  prophefied  of  the  grace  that 
*'  fhould  come  unto  you  ;  fearching  what,  or  what  man- 
*'  ner  of  time  the  fpirit  of  Chrifl  that  was  in  them  did 
*'  fignify,  when  it  tef^ified  before  hand  the  fufferings  of 
*'  Chrifi,  and  the  glory  that  fliould  follow."  We  are 
told,  that  the  church  of  the  Redeemer  is  built  on  the 
foundation  of  the  prophets  and  apolUes,  the  Redeem.er 
himfelf  being  the  chief  corner  ffone,  Eph.  ii.  20. 

This  was  the  firft  thing  of  the  nature  that  ever  v/as 
done  in  the  world ;  and  it  was  a  great  thing  that  God 
did  towards  further  advancing  this  crreat  buildino-  of  re- 
demption,  There  had  been  before  occafional  prophe- 
cies of  Chriif,  as  v\^as  fliown  ;  but  now  the  timic  dra^ving 
nearer  when  the  Redeemer  fhould  come,  it  pleafed  God 
to  appoint  a  certain  order  of  men,  in  conflant  fucceiTion, 
whofe  main  bufmers  it  fliould  be,  to  forefliow  Chrifl 
and  his  redemption,  and  as  his  forerunners  to  prepare 
the  way  for  his  coming;  and  God  eftahliflied  fchools, 
wherein  multitudes  were  inftrufted  and  trained  up  to 
that  end.  Rev.  xix.  10.  "I  am  thy  fellow  fervant,  and 
"  of  thy  brethren  that  have  the  teftimony  of  Jefus  ; 
*'  for  die  teflimonv  of  Jefus  is  the  fpirit  of  prophecy.'* 

PART 


112  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  I. 

P     A.    R     T         V. 

From  David  to  the  Bahylomjh  captivity. 

I  CO  ME  now  to  the  fifth  period  of  the  times  of  the 
Old  Teftament,  beginning  with  David^  and  extend- 
ing to  the  Babylcmjh  captivity ;  and  would  no\v  pro- 
ceed to  Ihow  how  the  work  of  redemption  was  carried 

on  through  this  period  alfo. And  here, 

I.  The  firll  thing  to  be  taken  notice  of,  is  God's  a- 
nointing  that  perfon  that  was  to  be  the  ancellor  of 
Chrift,  to  be  king  over  his  people.  The  difpenlVtions 
of  Providence  that  have  been  taken  notice  of  through 
the  laft  period,  from  Mofes  to  this  time,  refped  the 
people  whence  Chrift  was  to  proceed.  But  now  the 
fcripture  hiftory  leads  us  to  confider  God's  providence 
towards  that  particular  perfon  whence  Chrift  was  to  pro- 
ceed, viz.  David.  It  pleafed  God  at  this  time  remark- 
ably to  feleft  out  that  perfon  of  whom  Chrift  was  to 
come  from  all  the  ihoufands  of  Ifrael,  and  to  put  a  moft 
honorable  mark  of  diftinction  upon  him,  by  anointing 
him  to  be  king  over  his  people.  It  was  only  God  that 
could  find  him  out.  His  father's  houfe  is  fpoken  of  as 
being  little  in  Ifrael,  and  he  was  the  }'oungeft  of  all  the 
fens  of  his  father,  and  was  leaft  expecfed  to  be  the  m.an 
that  God  had  chofen  by  Samuel.  God  had  before,  in 
the  former  ages  of  the  world,  remarkably  diftinguilhed 
the  perfons  from  whom  Chrift  was  to  come ;  as  he  did 
Seth,  and  Noah,  and  Abraham,  and  Ifaac,  and  Jacob. 
But  the  laft  that  we  have  any  account  of  God's  marking 
out  in  any  notable  manner,  the  very  perfon  of  whom 
Chirift  was  to  come,  was  in  Jacob's  blefTiiig  his  fon  Jn- 
dah ;  unlefs  we  reckon  Nahfhon's  advancement  in  the 
wildernefs  to  be  the  head  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.  But 
this  diftin6Hon  of  the  peifon  of  whom  Chrift  was  to 
come,  in* David,  was  very  honorable;  for  it  was  God's 
anohituig  him  to  be  King  over  his  people.  And  there 
was  fomething  further  denoted  by  David's  anointing, 
than  was  in  tb.e  anointing  of  Saul.  God  anointed 
Saul  to  be  king  perfonally  ;  but  God  intended  fome- 
i!:;ng  further  by  fending  Samuel  to  anoint  David,  viz. 

to 


Part  V.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION. 


113 


to  eftablifh  the  crown  of  Ifrael  in  him  and  in  his  family, 
as  long  as  Ifrael  continued  to  be  a  kingdom ;  and  not 
only  fo,  but  what  was  infinitely  more  itill,  eltablifhing 
the  crown  of  his  univerfal  church,  his  fpiritual  Ifrael, 
in  his  feed,  to  the  end  of  the  world,  and  throughout  all 
eternity. 

This  was  a  great  difpenfation  of  God,  and  a  great 
ftep  taken  towards  a  further  advancing  of  the  work  of 
redemption,  according  as  the  time  diew  near  wherein 
Chrifl  was  to  come.  David,  as  he  wa«  the  anceflor  of 
Chrift,  fo  he  was  the  great  eft  perfonal  type  of  Chrift  of 
all  under  the  Old  Teftament.  The  types  of  Chrift  were 
of  three  forts ;  types  of  inftitution,  or  inftituted  types, 
and  providential,  and  perfonal  types.  The  ordinance 
of  facrificing  was  the  greateft  of  the  inftituted  types ; 
and  the  redemption  out  of  Egypt  was  the  greateft  of  the 
providential  types ;  and  David  the  greateft  of  the  per- 
fonal types.  Hence  Chrift  is  often  called  David  in  the 
prophecies  of  fcripture ;  as  Ezek.  xxxiv.  23.  24. "  And 
*'  I  will  fet  up  one  ftiepherd  over  them,  and  he  fhall 
"  feed  them,  even  my  fervant  David  ;  My  fervant  Da- 
"  vid  a  prince  among  them ;"  and  fo  in  many  other 
places  :  and  he  is  very  often  fpoken  of  as  the  feed  of 
David,  and  the  fon  of  David. 

David  being  the  anceftor  ,and  great  type  of  Chrift, 
his  being  folemnly  anointed  by  God,  to  be  king  over  his 
people,  that  the  kingdom  of  his  church  might  be  conti- 
nued in  his  family  for  ever,  may  in  fome  refpefls  be 
looked  on  as  an  anointing  of  Chrift  himfelf.  Chrift 
was  as  it  were  anointed  in  him ;  and  therefore  Chrift's 
anointing  and  David's  anointing  are  fpoken  of  under 
one  in  fcripture,  as  Pfal.  Ixxxix.  20.  "  I  have  found 
*'  David  my  fervant;  with  my  holy  oil  have  I  anointed 
"  him."  And  David's  throne  and  Chrift's  are  fpoken 
of  as  one :  Luke  i.  32.  "  And  the  Lord  fliall  give  him 
*'  the  throne  of  his  father  David."  A8s  ii.  30.  "  Da- 
**  vid— knowing  that  God  had  fworri  with  an  oath  to 
"  him,  that  of  the  fruit  of  his  loins,  according  to  the 
"  flefti,  he  would  raife  up  Chrift  to  fit  on  his  throne." 
Thus  God's  beginning  of  the  kingdom  of  his  church 
in  the  houfe  of  David,  was,  as  it  were,  a  new  eftablifti- 
i;ig  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift ;  the  beginning  of  it  in  a 
J0;ate  of  fuch  vj;fibiUtv  as  it  thence forY,-^d  continued  in, 

^      M  It 


rr4-  A   HISTORY   of  Period  I. 

It  was  as  it  were  God's  planting  the  root,  whence  that 
branch  of  righteoiifnefs  was  atlerwards  to  fpring  up, 
that  \Vc\s  to  be  the  everlailing  king  of  his  church  ;  and 
^  therefore  this  everlafting  king  is  called  the  branch  Jrovi 
the  /km  of  J'-^'Jfe.  If.  xi.  i.  "  And  there  fhall  come 
•'  forth  a  rod  nut  of  the  ilem  of  JelTe,  and  a-  branch 
*"  fliall  grow  out  of  his  roots."  Jer.  xxiii.  5.  "  Behold, 
*'  the  da}s  come,  faith  the  Lord,  that  I  will  raifc  up 
"  unto  David  a  righteous  branch,  and  a  king  fhall  reign 
*'  andproiper."  So  chap.  xxxiii..i,5.  "  In  thofe  days> 
*'  and  at  that  time,  I  will  caufe  the  branch  of  r-ighteouf- 
**  nefs  to  grow 'up  unto  David,  and  he  fliall  execute 
"  judgment  and  righteoufncfs  in  the  land."  So  Ghrilf^ 
in  the  New  Teftament,  is  called  the  root  and  oJJ-spnng 
of  DavuL  Rev.  xxii.  i-6. 

It  is  obfcrvable,  that  God  anointed  David  after  Saul 
to  reign  in  his  ri}om.  He  took  away  the  crown  from 
him  and  his  family,  v,ho  was  higher  in  ftature  than  any 
of  his  people,,  and  was  in  their  eyes  the  fittefl  to  bear 
rule,  to  give  it  to  David,  who  w^as  low  of  ftature,  and  in 
companion  of  defpicable  appearance :  io  God  waspleal-^ 
ed  to  Ihow  how  Chriil,  who  appeared  defpicable,  with- 
out form  orcomelinefs,  and  was  defpifcd  and  rejecledof 
men,  fliould  take  the  kingdom  from  the  great  ones  of 
the  earth.  And  alfo  it  isobfervable,  that  David  was  the 
youngell  of  Jeffe's  fons,  as  Ja<:ob  the  younger  brother 
llipplanted  Efau,  and  got  the  birthright  and  blefling 
from  him  :  and  as  Pharcz,  another  of  ChriU'sancellors, 
fapplanted  Zarah  m  the  birth ;  and  as  Ifaac,  another  of 
the  ancellors  of  Chrilt,  caft  out  his  elder  brother  Ifli- 
mael;  thus  was  that  frequent  faying  of  Chmft  fulfilled;^ 
«  The  laff  (hall  be  firll,  and  the'fidf  laff/' 

II.  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve,  is  God's  fo  pre- 
ferving  Da\id's  life,  by  a  ferics  of  wonderful  provi- 
dences, till  Sauks  death.  I  before  took  notice  of  the 
\\'onderfLil  prefer  vation  of  other  particular  perfons  that 
■v^ere  the ancefl^ors of  Chrift ;  as  Noah,  Abraham,  Ifaac, 
Jacob  ;  and  have  obfcrved  how,  in  that  Chriit  tlie  great 
Redeemer  was  to  proceed  from  them,  that  in  their  pre- 
fervaiion,  tlie  work  of  rcdcmpaon  itfelf  mav  be  looked 
lapon  as  prelerv  ed  from  being  defeated,  and  the  \vliole 
church,  which  is  redeemed  through  him,  from  being 
«)vcnhIO^vn«     But  tlie  prefervation  of  Da\'id,was  no  \ck 

remarkable 


Part  V.      Th e  Wo r k  of  REDEMPTION.     1 1 ^ 

remarkaWe  than  that  of  any  others  tliat  have  been  al- 
ready taken  notice  o(.  How  often  was  it  fo  that  there 
w^s  but  a  ilep  between  him  and  death.  The  firll  in.- 
ilance  of  it  we  have  in  his  encountering  a  Hon  and  a 
bear,  when  they  had  -caught  a  Iamb  out  of  his  flock, 
which,  without  miraculous  affiftance,  could  at  once  have 
rent  this  young  ftripling  in  pieces,  as  they  could  the 
lamb  that  he  delivered  from  them :  fo  afterwards  the  root 
and  offspring  of  David  was  preferved  liom  the  roaring 
lion  that  goes  about  feeking  whom  he  may  devour,  and 
conquered  him,  and  refcued  the  poor  fouls. of  m.cn,  that 
were  as  lambs  in  the  mouth  of  this  lion.  Another  rcr 
rearkable  inftance  was,  in  preferving  him  from  that 
mighty  giant  Goliath,  who  was  ffrong  enough  to  have 
taken  him,  and  picked  him  to  pieces  with  his  finger.s, 
and  given  his  fleih  to  the  bealfs  of  the  field,  and  to  the 
fowls  of  the  air,  as  he  threatened  him :  but  God  pre- 
ferved him  from  him,  ajnd  gave  him  the  viclory  over 
him,  fo  that  he  cut  off  his  head  with  his  own  hvord,, 
a^d  made  him  therein  the  deliverer  of  his  people  ;  as 
Ghrift  flew  the  fpiritual  Goliath  with  his  own  vvreap>on, 
the  crofs,  and  fo  delivered  his  peo])1e.  And  how  re- 
markably did  God  preferve  him  from  being  fiain  by 
Saul,  wlien  he  firfl  fought  his  life,  by  giving,  him  his 
daughter  to  be  a  fnare  to  him,  that  the  hand  of  the 
Fhiliftines  might  be  upon  him,  requiring  him  to  pay  for 
her  by  an  hundred  forefRms  of  the  Philiilines,  that  fo 
his  life  might  be  expofed  to  them  ^  and  in  preferving 
him  afterwards,  when  Said  fpake  to  Jonathan,  and  to 
all  his  fervants,  to  kill  David;  and  in  inclining  Jonathan, 
inftead  of  his  killing  him,  as  his  father  bade  him,  to  love 
him  as  his  own  foul,  a«d  to  be  a  great  initrument  of  his 
prefervation,  even  fo  as  to  expofe  his  own  life  to  pre- 
ferve David  ;  though  one  would  have  thought  tliat  none 
Vv'ovdd  have  been  more  willing  to  have  David  killed  than. 
Jonathan,  feeing  that  he  was  competitor  mth  him  for 
his  father's  cro^^/n ;  and  again  faving  him,  when  Saul 
threw  a  javelin  at  him  to  fmite  him  even  to  the  wall ; 
and  agaia  preferving  him,  when  he  fent  meOengers  to 
his  houfe,  to  watch  him,  and  to  kill  him,  when  JNlichal, 
Saul's  daughter  let  him  do^vn  through  a  window  ;  and 
v.-hen  he  afterwards  fent  mcflengers,  once  and  again,  to. 
Jvaioth  in  Ramah,  to  take  him,  and  they  were  remark- 
M  2  dhlv 


ii6  A  HISTORY  ot  Period  I. 

ably  p-'-evented  time  after  time,  by  being  feizsd  with  mi- 
raculous impreflions  of  the   fpirit  of  God  ;  and  after- 
wards, when  Saul   being  refolute  in  the  affair,  went 
himfelf,   he  alfo  \vas  among  the  prophets  :  and  after 
this,  how  wonderfully   was   David's   life  preferved  at 
Gath  among  the  Philillines,  M^hen  he  went  to  Achifti 
the   king  of  Gath,  and  was  there  in  the  hands  of  the 
Philillines,  who,  one  would  have  thought,  would  have 
difpatclied  him  at  once,  he  having  fo  m\ich  provoked 
them  bv  his  exploits  againft  them :  and  he  was  again 
"wonderfully  prefeived  at  Keilah,  when  he  had  entered 
into  a  fenced  town  \vhere  Saul  thought  he  was  fure  of 
him.  And  how  wonderfully  was  he  preferved  from  Saul, 
when  he  purfaed  and  hunted  him  in  the  mountains  ? 
How  remarkably  did  God  deliver  him  in  the  wildernefs 
of  Maon,  ^vhen  Saul  and  his  armv  were  compafling  Da- 
vid about ;  How  was  he  delivered  in  the  cave  of  Enge- 
di,  when,  inftead  of  Saul's  killing  David,  God  deliver- 
ed Saul  into  his  hands  in  the  cave,  and  he  cut  oflPhis 
Ikirt,  and  might   as  eafilv  have  cut  off  his  head  ;  and 
afterwards  delivering  him  in  like  manner  in  the  wilder- 
jiefs  of  Ziph  ;    and  afterwards  again  prefcrving  him  in 
the  land  of  the  Philillines,  though  David  had  fought  a- 
gainif  the   Pliilifiines,   and  conquered  them  at  Keilah, 
fince  he  v/as  laft  among  them;  which  one  would  think 
would  have  been  fufficient   warning  to  them  not  to 
trull  him.,  or  let  him  efcape  a  fecond  time,  if  ever  they 
had  him  in  their  hands  again  ;  but  3-ct  rov/,  when  they 
had  a  fecond  opportunity,  God  wonderfully  turned  their 
hearts  to  him  to  befriend  and  protect  him,  inftead  of 
deftroying  him.    ■  '  ' 

'  Thus  was  the  precious  feed  that  virtually  contained 
the  Redeemer,  and  all  the  blefTmgs  of  his  redeniption, 
wonderfully  preferved,  when  hell  and  earth  w^ere  con- 
fpired  againft  it  to  defiroy  it.  How  often  does  David 
himfelf  rake  notice  of  this,  with  praife  and  admiration, 
in  the  book  of  Pfalms  ?  '  .     - 

III.  About  this  time,  the  written  word  of  God,  or 
the  canon  of  fcripture,  was  added  to  by  Samuel.  I  have 
before  obferved,  how  that  the  canon  of  the  fcripture 
w-as  begun,  and  the  firft  written  word  of  God,  the  firft 
written  rule  of  faith  and  manners  that  ever  was,  was  gi- 
ven to  the  church  about  Mofes's  time  :  and  many,  and 
I 


Part  V.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION,     xi; 

I  know  not  but  moft  divines,  think  it  was  added  to  by 
Jolhua,  and  that  he  wrote  the  laft  chapter  of  Deutero- 
nomy, and  moil  of  the  book  of  Jolhua.     Others  think 
that  Jofhua,  Judges,  Ruth,  and  part  of  the  firfl  book  of 
Samuel,  were  written  by  SamueL     However  that  was, 
this  we  have  good  evidence  of,  that  Samuel  made  an 
addition  lo  the  canon  of  fcripture  ;    for  Samuel  is  ma- 
nifeftly  mentioned  in  the  New  Teflament,  as  one  of  the 
prophets  whofe  writings  we  have  in  the  fcrlptures,  in 
that  foremen tioned  Atts  iii.  24.  "  Yea  and  all  the  pro- 
*'  phets  from  Samuel,  and  thofe  that  follow  after,  as 
*'  many  as  have  fpoken,  have  likev/ife  foretold  of  thefe 
**  days."  By  that  exprelfion,  "as  many  as  have  fpoken,'* 
cannot  be  meant,  as  many  as  have  fpoken  by  word  of 
mouth ;  for  never  was  any  prophet  but  what  did  that : 
but  the  meaning  muft  be,  as  many  as  have  fpoken  by 
writing,  fo  that  what  they  have  fpoken  has  come  down 
to  us,  that  we  may  fee  what  it  is. 

And  the  way  that  Samuel  fpoke  of  thefe  times  of 
Chrifl  and  the  gofpel,  v/asby  giving  the  hiftory  of  thofe 
things  that  typified  them,  and  pointed  to  them,  particu- 
larly the  things  concerning  David  that  he  wrote.  The 
fpirit  of  God  moved  him  to  commit  thofe  things  to  wri- 
ting, chiefiy  for  that  reafon,  becaufe  they  pointed  to 
Chrift,  and  the  times  of  the  gofpel  ;  and,  as  was  faid  be- 
fore, this  was  the  main  bufmefs  of  all  that  fucceflion  of 
prophets,  that  began  in  Samuel,  to  forefhow  thofe  timesl 
That  Samuel  added  to  the  canon  of  the  fcriptures 
feems  further  to  appear  from  1.  Chron.  xxix.  29.  "  Now 
**  the  afts  of  David  the  king,  firft  and  laft,  behold  they 
**  are  written  in  the  book  of  Samuel  the  fecr." 

Whether  the  book  of  Jofhua  was  written  by  Samuel 
or  not,  yet  it  is  the  general  opinion  of  divines,  that  the 
bocks  of  Judges  and  Ruth,  and  part  of  the  firft  book  of 
Samutcl,  were  penned  by  him.  The  book  of  Rtith  was 
penned  for  that  reafon,  becaufe  though  it  fccmed  to 
treat  of  private  affairs,  yet  the  perfons  chieHy  fpoken  of 
in  that  book  were  of  the  family  whence  David  and 
Chrift  proceeded,  and  fo  pointed  to  what  the  apoftle  Pe- 
ter obferved  of  Samuel  and  the  other  prophets,  in  the 
3d  chapter  of  A61s.  The  thus  adding  to  the  canon  of 
the  fcriptures,  the  great  and  main  inftrument  of  the  ap- 
plication of  redemption,  is  to  be  looked  upon  as  a  fur- 
'    ■  ther 


ii8  A   H  I  ST  Oil  Y    OF  Periods 

4ker  carrying  on  of  that  work,  aud  an  addition  made  to 
that  great  building, 

IV.  Anoilier  thing  God  did  towards  this  work,  at 
that  time,  was  his  infpiring  David  to  fhow  forth  Chrift 
and  liis  redemption,  in  divine  fongs,  Avhich  fliould  be 
for  the  uie  ot  the  church,  in  public  worfhip,  throughout 
a]!  ages.  David  was  himfelf  endued  with  the  fpirit  of 
prophecy.  He  is  called  a  prophet,  Afts  ii.  29.  30.  *'  Let 
"  me  freely  fpeak  to  you  of  the  patriarch  David,  that 
*'  he  is  both  dead  and  biiried,  and  his  fepulchre  is  with 
•'  us  unto  this  day :  therefore  being  a  prophet,  and 
*'  knpv/ing  that  God  had  fworn  with  an  oath,"  &c.  So 
that  herein  he  was  a  type  of  Chrift,  that  he  w:as  both  a 
prophet  and  a  king.  We  have  no  certain  account  of 
the  time  when  David  was  firft  endued  with  the  fpirit  of 
prophecy ;  but  it  is  manifeft,  that  it  either  was  at  the 
time  tlrat  Samuel  anointed  him,  or  \&rf  foon  after;  for 
lie  appears  foon  after  afted  by  this  fpirit,  in  the  affair  of 
Goiiath  :  and  then  great  part  of  the  pfalms  were  pen- 
ned in  the  time  of  his  troubles,  before  he  came  to  the 
crown  ;  as  might  be  made  manifeft  bv  an  induftion  of 
particulars. 

The  oil  that  was  ufed  in  anointing  David  was  a  type 
of  the  fpirit  of  God  ;  and  the  type  and  the  antetypc 
%vere  given  both  together ;  as  we  are  told,  1  Sam.  xvi. 
23.  "Then  Samuel  took  the  horn  of  oil,  and  anointed 
*'  him  ill  the  midft  of  \\\z  brethren;  and  the  fpirit  of 
tlie  Lord  cam.e  upon  David  from  that  day  forward :" 
r.nd  it  is  probable  that  now  it  came  upon  him  in  its  pro- 
plietical  influences. 

The  way  that  this  fpirit  influenced  him  was,  to  infpire 
liim  to  fliow^  forth  Chrifl,  and  the  glorious  things  of  his 
redemption,  in  divine  fongs,  fweetly  expreffmg  the 
breatiiings  of  a  pious  foul,  full  of  admiration  of  the 
glorious  thingr,  of  the  Redeemer,  inflamed  with  divine 
love,  and  lifted  up  with  praife  ;  and  therefore  he  is  call- 
ed the  fweet  pfalmi/i  of  I/rael.  2  Sam.  xxiii.  i.  "Now 
""  thefe  be  the  lall  words  of  David :  David  the  foh  of 
*'  JefTe  faid,  and  the  man  who  was  raifed  up  on  high, 
','  the  anointed  of  the  God  of  Jacob,  and  the  fweet 
*'  pfalmift  of  Jfrael."  The  main  lubje6fs  of.thefe  fweet 
^png^  were  the  glorious  things  of  thegofpel ;  as  is  evi- 
dent by  the  inter]) relation  that  is  often  put  upon  them, 

aiid 


Part  V.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION,      rr^ 

and  the  ufe  that  is  made  of  them  in  the  New  Teflament : 
for  there  is  no  one  book  of  the  Old  l^lhiment  tliat  is 
\'o  often  quoted  in  the  New,  as  the  book  of  Pfahns. 
lovfully  did  this  holy  man  fing  of  thofe  great  things  of 
Chrift's  redemption,  that  had  been  the  liope  and  expec-r 
tation  of  God's  church  and  people  from  the  beginning 
of  the  church  of  God  on  earth  ;  and  jo)'fully  did  others 
follow  him  in  it,  as  Afaph,  Heraan,  Edian  and  others  ; 
for  the  book  of  pfalms  was  not  all  penned  by  David, 
though  the  greater  part  of  it  was.  Elereby  the  canon  of 
fcriptme  was  further  added  to ;  and  an  excellent  por- 
tion of  divine  writ  was  it  that  was  added. 

This  was  a  great  advancement  that  God  made  in  this 
building ;  and  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  which  had  been 
gradually  growing  from  the  fall,  was  exceedingly  increa- 
fed  by  it ;  for  whereas  before  there  was  but  here  and 
there  a  prophecy  given  of  Chrift  in  a  great  many  ages, 
now  here  Chrill  is  fpoken  of  by  his  ancellor  Da\'id  a- 
bundantly,  in  multitudes  of  fongs,  fpeaking  of  his  incar- 
nation, life,  death,  refurre6tion,  afcenfion  into  heaven, 
his  fatisfaftion,  interceihon ;  his  prophetical,  kingly^ 
and  prieltly  office ;  his  glorious  benefits  in  this  life  and 
that  w^hich  is  to  come ;  his  union  with  the  church,  and 
the  bleffednefs  of  the  church  in  liim  ;  the  calling  of  the 
Gentiles,  the  future  glory  of  the  church  near  the  end  of 
the  world,  and  Chrilt's  coming  to  the  final  judgment. 
All  thefe  things,  and  many  more  concerning  Chrift  and 
his  redemption,  are  abundantly  fpoken  of  in  the  book 
of  pfalms. 

This  was  alfo  a  glorious  advancement  of  the  affair  of 
redemption,  as  God  hereby  gave  his  church  a  book  of 
divine  fongs  for  their  ufe  in  that  part  of  their  public 
worfhip,  viz.  finging  his  praifes  throughout  all  ages  to 
the  end  of  the  world.  It  is  manifeft  die  book  of  Pfalms- 
was  given  of  God  for  this  end.  It  was  ufed  in  the 
clmrch  of  Ifiael  h)  God's  appointment :  this  is  manifcli 
by  thq  title  of  many  of  thepfidm.s,  in  which  they  are  in- 
fcribed  to  the  chief  mulici.m,  ?.  e.  to  the  man  that  was 
appointed  to  be  the  leader  of  divine  fongs  in  the  temple, 
v\  die  pubhc  worfhip  of  Ifrael.  So  David  is  calUxl  //at 
>  w/  pfalmiji  of  Ifrael,  becaufe  he  penned  pfalms  for  the 
ide  of  the  church  of  Ifrael,  and  accordingly  we  have 
an  account  that  they  were  a61ually  made  ufe  of  in  tU^ 

church 


120  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  I. 

church  of  Ifrael  for  that  end,  even  ages  after  David  was^ 
dead  ;  as  2  Chron.  xxix.  30.  "Moreover,  Hezekiah  the 
*'  king  and  the  princes,  commanded  the  Levites  to  fmg 
"  praifes  unto  the  Lord  with  the  words  of  David  and  of 
**  Afaph  the  feer."  And  we  find  that  the  fame  are  ap- 
pointed in  the  New  Teftament  to  he  made  ufe  of  in  the 
Chriflian  church,  in  their  worfhip  :  Eph.  v.  19.  "Speak- 
•*  ing  to  yourfelves  in  pj'alms,  hymns,  and  fpiritual 
"  fongs."  Col.  iii.  16.  Admonifhing  one  another  in 
"  pfalms,  hymns,  and  fpiritual  fongs."  And  fo  they 
have  been,  and  will  to  the  end  of  the  world  be  made  ufe 
of  in  the  church  to  celebrate  the  praifes  of  God.  The 
people  of  God  were  wont  fometimes  to  worfhip  God  by 
fmging  fongs  to  his  praife  before;  as  they  did  at  the 
Red  Sea ;  and  they  had  Mofes's  prophetical  fong,  in  the 
32d  chapter  of  Deuteronomy,  committed  to  them  for 
that  end ;  and  Deborah,  and  Barak,  and  Hannah,  fung 
praifes  to  God:  but  now  firft  did  God  commit  to  his 
church  a  book  of  divine  fongs  for  their  conftant  ufe. 

V.  The  next  thing  I  would  take  notice  of,  is  God's 
a6lually  exalting  David  to  the  throne  of  Ifrael,  not- 
withftanding  all  the  oppofition  made  to  it.  God  was  de- 
termined to  do  it,  and  he  made  every  thing  give  place 
that  ftood  in  the  way  of  it.  He  removed  Saul  and  his 
fons  out  of  the  way ;  and  firft  fet  David  over  the  tribe  of 
Judah  ;  and  then,  having  removed  Ifhbolheth,  fet  him 
over  all  Ifrael.  Thus  did  God  fulfil  h's  word  to  David, 
He  took  him  from  the  (heep-cote,  and  made  him  king 
over  his  people  Ifrael,  Pfal.  Ixxviii.  70.  71.  And  now 
the  throne  of  Ifrael  was  eftabliflied  in  that  family  in 
which  it  was  to  continue  for  ever,  even  for  ever  and  ever. 

VI.  Now  firft  it  was  that  God  proceeded  to  chufe  a 
particular  city  out  of  all  the  tribes  of  Ifrael  to  place  his 
name  there.  There  is  feveral  times  mention  made  in 
the  law  of  Mofes,  of  the  children  of  Ifrael's  bringhig 
their  oblations  to  the  place  which  God  Ihould  choofe  ; 
as  Deut.  xii.  5.  6.  7.  and  fo  in  many  other  places;  but 
God  had  never  proceeded  to  do  it  till  now.  The  ta- 
bernacle and  ark  were  never  fixed,  but  fometimes  in  one 
place,  and  fometimes  in  anodier ;  but  now  God  pro- 
ceeded to  choofe  Jerufalem.  The  city  of  Jerufalem  was 
never  thoroughly  conquered,  or  taken  out  of  the  hands 
of  the  Jebufites,  till  David's  time.    It  is  faid  in  Joftiua 

XV. 


Part  V.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     121 

XV.  63.  **  As  for  the  Jebufiies,  the  inhabitants  of  Jem- 
**  falem,  the  children  of  Judah  could  not  drive  tliem 
"  out;  but  the  Jebufites  dwell  with  the  children  of  Ju- 
"  dah  at  Jerufalem  unto  this  day."  But  now  David 
wholly  fubducd  it,  as  we  have  an  account  in  2  Sam.  v. 
And  now  God  proceeded  to  chufe  that  city  to  place  his 
name  there,  as  appears  by  David's  bringing  up  the  ark 
thither  foon  after;  and  therefore  this  is  mentioned  af- 
terwards as  the  firft  time  God  proceeded  to  chufe  a  ci- 
ty to  place  his  nam.e  there,  2  Chron.  vi.  5.  6.  and  chap, 
xii.  13.  Afterwards  God  proceeded  to  fhow  David 
the  very  place  where  he  would  have  his  temple  built, 
viz.  in  the  threlhing-floor  of  Araunah  the  Jebufite. 

The  city  of  Jerufalem  is  therefore  called  the  holy  city ; 
and  it  was  the  greatefl  type  of  the  church  of  Chrift  ia 
all  the  Old  Teltament.  It  was  redeemed  by  David,  the 
captain  of  the  hofts  of  Ifrael,  out  of  the  hands  of  the 
Jebufites,  to  be  God's  city,  the  holy  place  of  his  reft 
for  ever,  where  he  would  dwell ;  as  Chriif ,  the  captain 
of  his  people's  falvation,  redeems  his  church  out  of  the 
hands  of  devils,  to  be  his  holy  and  beloved  city.  And 
therefore  how  often  does  the  fcripture,  when  fpeaking 
of  Chrift's  redemption  of  his  church,  call  it  by  the 
names  of  Zion  and  Jeru falem  ?  This  was  the  city  that 
God  had  appointed  to  be  the  place  of  the  firft  gather- 
ing and  ereding  of  the  Chrillian  church  after  Chrift's 
refurreftion,  of  that  remarkable  powering  out  of  the 
fpirit  of  God  on  the  apoftles  and  primitive  Chriftians, 
and  the  place  whence  the  gofpel  was  to  found  forth  in- 
to all  the  world;  the  place  of  the  firft  Chrifiian  church 
that  was  to  be,  as  it  were,  the  mother  of  all  other  church- 
es through  the  world  ;  agreeable  to  that  prophecy.  If. 
ii.  3.  4.  "  Out  of  Zion  {hall  go  forth  the  lav/,  and 
*'  the  word  of  the  Lord  from  Jerufalem  :  and  he  fliall 
"  judge  among  the  nations,  and  ftiall  rebuke  many  peo- 
"  pie,"   &c. 

Thus  God  chofe  Mount  Sion  whence  the  gofpel  was 
to  be  founded  forth,  as  the  law  had  been  from  Mount 
Sinai. 

VII.  The  next  thing  to  be  obferved  here,  is  God's 

folemnly  renewing  the  covenant  of  grace  with  David, 

and  promifing  that  the  Mefliah  (liould  be  of  his   feed. 

We  have  an  account  of  it  in  the  /tk chapter  of  the  fe^ 

N  go^d 


152  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  I. 

cond  book  of  Samuel.  It  was  done  on  occafion  of  the 
thoughts  David  entertained  of  building  God  an  houfe. 
On  this  occafion  God  fends  Nathan  the  prophet  to  him, 
with  the  glorious  promifes  of  the  covenant  of  grace.  It 
is  cfpecially  contained  in  thefe  words  in  the  i6th  veri'e: 
*'  And  thy  houfe  and  thy  kingdom  fhall  be  eUablilhed 
**  for  ever  before  thee  ;  thy  throne  (liall  be  efiablifhed 
*'  for  ever."  Which  promife  has  refpeft  to  Chrift,  the 
feed  of  David,  and  is  fulfilled  in  him  only :  for  the 
kingdom  of  David  has  long  fmce  ceafed,  any  other- 
v;ife  than  as  it  is  upheld  in  Chrift.  The  temporal  king- 
dom of  the  houfe  of  David  has  now^  ceafed  for  a  great 
many  ages  ;  much  longer  than  ever  it  flood. 

That  this  covenant  that  God  now  eliablifhed  wiih 
David  by  Nathan  the  prophet,  was  the  covenant  of 
grace,  is  evident  by  the  plain  teftimony  of  fcripture,  in 
If.  Iv.  1.  2.  3.  There  we  have  Chrift  inviting  finners 
to  come  to  the  waters,  <Scc.  And  in  the  3d  verfe,  he 
fays,  "  Incline  your  ear,    come  unto  me ;  hear,   and 


our 


r  fouls  fhall  live  ;  and  I  will  make  with  you  an 
*'  everlafting  covenant,  even  the  fure  mercies  of 
"  David."  Here  Chrift  offers  to  poor  finners,  if  they 
will  come  to  him,  to  give  them  an  intereft  in  the  fame 
everlafling  covenant  that  he  had  made  with  David,  con- 
veying to  them  the  fame  fure  mercies.  But  what  is 
that  covenant  that  finners  obtain  an  intereft  in,  when 
they  eome  to  Chrift,  but  the  covenant  of  grace  ? 

This  was  the  fifth  folemri  eftablifhment  of  the  cove- 
nant of  {Trace  with  the  church  after  the  fail.  The  co- 
venant of  grace  was  revealed  and  eftabliJhed  all  along. 
But  there  had  been  particular  feafons,  wherein  God 
had  in  a  very  folemn  manner  renewed  this  covenant 
with  his  church,  giving  forth  a  new  edition  and  efta- 
blifhment of  it,  revealing  it  in  a  new  irianner.  This  was 
now  the  fifth  folemin  eftabliftiment  of  that  covenant. — 
The  firft  was  with  Adam,  the  fecond  was  with  Noah, 
the  third  was  with  tlie  patriarchs,  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and 
Jacob,  the  fourth  was  in  the  wildernefs  by  Mofes,  and 
now  the  fifth  is  this  made  to  David. 

This  eftablilhment  of  the  covenant  of  grace  Vvith  Da- 
vid, David  always  efleemed  the  greatelt  fmile  of  God 
upon  him,  the  greateft  honour  of  all  that  God  had  put 
wpon  him  ;  he  prized  it,  and  rejoiced  in  it  above  all  the 

other 


Part  V.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      123 

other  bleffings  of  his  reign.  You  may  fee  how  joyfully 
and  thankfully  he  received  it,  when  Nathan  came  to 
him  with  the  glorious  mefLge,  in  2  Sam,  vii.  18.  &c. 
And  fo  David,  in  his  lail  words,  declares  this  to  be  all 
his  falvation,  and  all  his  dcfire ;  as  you  may  fee,  2  Sam. 
xxiii.  5.  "  He  hath  made  with  me  an  everlalHngcove- 
"  nant,  ordered  in  all  things  and  fure  ;  for  this  is  all 
*'  my  falvation,  and  all  my  defirc. 

VIII.  It  was  by  David  that  God  firfl  gave  his  people 
Ifrael  the  pofTeffion  of  the  whole  promifed  land.  I  have 
before  ihown,  how  God's  giving  the  polledion  of  the 
promifed  land  belonge-d  to  the  covenant  of  grace.  This 
was  done  in  a  great  meafure  by  Jofhua,  but  not  full)-. 
Jofhua  did  not  wholly  fubdue  that  part  of  the  promifed 
land  that  was  flri^lly  called  the  land  of  Canaan,  and. 
that  was  divided  by  lot  to  the  feveral  tribes  ;  but  there 
were  great  numbers  of  the  old  inhabitants  left  un- 
fubdued,  as  we  read  in  the  books  of  Jofhua  and  Judges; 
and  there  were  many  left  to  prove  Ifrael,  and  to  be 
thorns  in  their  fides,  and  pricks  in  their  eyes*  There 
were  the  Jebufites  in  Jeruflilem,  and  many  of  the  Ca-. 
naanites,  and  the  whole  nation  of  the  PhililHnes,  who 
all  dwelt  in  that  part  of  the  land  that  was  divided  by 
lot,  and  chiefly  in  that  part  of  the  laud  that  belonged 
to  the  tribes  of  Judah  and  Ephraim. 

And  thus  thefe  remains  of  tb.e  old  inhabitants  of  Ca« 
naan  continued  unfubdued  till  David's  time  ;  but  he 
wholly  fubdued  them  all.  Which  is  agreeable  to  what 
St.  Stephen  obferves,  Afts  vii,  45.  "  Which  alfo  our 
*'  fathers  brought  in  with  Jefus  fi.  e.  Jofhua)  into  the 
"  poffefTion  of  the  Gentiles,  whom  God  drove  out  be- 
*'  fore  the  face  of  our  fathers,  unto  the  days  of  David." 
They  were  till  the  days  of  David  in  driving  them  out» 
before  they  had  wholly  fubdued  them.  But  David  en-^ 
tirely  brought  them  under.  He  fubdued  the  Jebufites^ 
and  he  fubdued  the  whole  nation  of  the  Phiiiftines,  and 
all  the  refl  of  the  remains  of  the  (cwQin  nations  of  Ca-. 
naan  :  1  Chron.  xviii.  1.  "  Now  after  this  it  came  to 
**  pafs,  that  David  fmote  the  Phiiiftines,  and  fubdued 
*'  them,  and  look  Gath  and  her  towns  out  of  the  hands, 
**  of  the  Phiiiftines." 

After  this,  all  the  remains  of  the  former  inhabitants, 
of  Cairaan  were  made  bond-fervants  to  the  Ifraelites* 
N  3  The 


124  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  OF  Period  I. 

The  poflerity  of  the  Gibeonitcs  became  fervants  before, 
hewers  of  wood,  and  drawers  of  water  for  the  houfe 
of  God.  But  Solomon,  David's  fon  and  fucceffor,  put 
all  the  other  remains  of  the  feven  nations  of  Canaan  to 
bond-fervice  ;  at  lead  made  them  pay  a  tribute  of  bond- 
service, as  you  may  fee,  i  Kings  ix.  20.  21.  22.  And 
hence  we  read  of  the  children  of  Solomon's  fervants, 
afier  the  return  from  the  Babylonifli  captivity,  Ezra  ii, 
55.  and  Neh.  xi.  3.  They  were  the  children  or  pofte- 
rity  of  the  feven  nations  of  Canaan,  that  Solomon  had 
fubjefled  to  bond-fervice. 

Thus  David  fubducd  the  whole  land  of  Canaan;^ 
llri611y  fo  called.  But  then  that  was  not  one  half,  nor 
quarter,  of  the  land  God  had  promifed  to  their  fathers. 
The  land  that  God  had  often  promiied  to  their  fathers, 
included  all  the  countries  from  the  river  of  Egypt  to 
the  river  Euphrates.  Thefe  were  the  bounds  of  the 
land  promifed  to  Abraham,  Gen.  xv.  18.  "  In  that  fame 
"  day  the  Lord  made  a  covenant  with  Abrara,  fay- 
"  ing,  Unto  thy  feed  have  I  given  this  land,  from  the- 
"  river  ot  Egypt,  unto  the  great  river,  the  river  Eu- 
*'  phrates."  So  again  God  promifed  at  Mount  Sinai, 
Exod.  xxiii.  31.  "  And  I  will  fet  thy  bounds  from  the 
**  Red  Sea  even  unto  the  fea  of  the  Phihftines,  and 
"  from  the  defavt  unto  thi^  river  :  for  I  will  deliver  the 
"  inhabitants  of  the  land  into  your  hand  ;  and  thou 
"  fhait  drive  them  out  before  thee."  So  again,  Deut, 
xi.  24.  "Every  place  whereon  the  foles  of  your  feet 
*'  fhall  tread,  fhall  be  yours  :  from  the  wildernefs, 
*'  and  Lebanon  from  the  river,  the  river  Euphrates, 
*'  even  unto  the  uttermofl  fea,  ihall  your  coaft  be.'* 
Again,  the  fame  promife  is  made  to  Jofhua  :  Jofh.  i. 
3.  4.  "Every  place  that  the  fole  of  your  feet  fhall  tread 
"  upon,  have  I  given  unto  you,  as  I  faid  unto  Mofes ; 
*'  from  the  wildernefs  and  this  Lebanon,  even  unto  the 
"  great  river,  the  river  Euphrates,  all  the  land  of  the 
"  Hittites,  and  unto  the  great  fea,  towards  the  going 
"  down  of  the  fun,  fhall  be  your  coaft."  But  the  land 
that  Jofliua  gave  the  people  the  poffeftion  of,  was  but  a 
little  part  of  this  land.  And  the  people  never  had  had 
the  pofI'c.'Jio;i  of  it,  till  now  v;hen  God  gave  it  them  by 
David. 

Thi§  larqc  country  did  not  opJv  include  that  Canaan 

that 


partV.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    125 

that  was  divided  by  lot  to  thofe  who  came  in  with  Jo- 
fhua,  but  the  'and  of  the  Moabites  and  Ammonites, 
the  'land  of  the  Aiiialekites,  and  the  reft  of  the  Edo- 
mites,  and  the  country  of  Zobah.  All  thefe  nations 
were  fubdued  and  brought  under  the  children  of  IfraeJ 
by  David,  And  he  put  garrifons  in  the  feveral  coun- 
tries, and  they  became  David's  fervants,  as  we  have  a 
particular  account  in  the  8th  chapter  of  2d  Samuel; 
and  David  extended  their  border  to  the  river  Euphrates, 
as  was  promifed  ;  fee  the  3d  verfe ;  ^'  And  David  fraote 
^'  alfo  Hadadezer  the  fon  of  Rehob,  king  of  Zobah,  as 
**  he  went  to  recover  his  border  at  the  river  Euphrates." 
And  accordingly  we  read,  that  Solomon  his  fon  reign- 
pd  over  all  the  region  on  this  fide  the  river,  1  ICings 
iv.  24.  "For he  had  dominion  over  all  the  region  on 
«•  this  fide  the  river,  from  Tiphfah  even  unto  Azzah, 
^'  over  all  t^e  kings  on  this  fide  the  river."  This  Ar- 
taxerxes  king  of  Perfia,  takes  notice  of  long  after ;  Ezra 
iv.  20.  "There  have  been  mighty  kings  alfo  over  Jeru- 
*'  falem,  which  have  ruled  over  all  countries  beyond 
**  the  river ;  and  toll,  tribute,  and  cuftom  was  paid 
**  unto  them." 

So  that  Jolhiia,  that  type  oj  Chrill,  did  but  begin  the 
work  of  giving  Ifrael  the  poffeffion  of  the  promifec! 
land ;  but  left  it  to  be  finifhed  by  that  much  greater 
type  and  anceilor  of  Chrift,  even  David,  who  fubdued 
far  more  of  that  land  than  ever  Jofhua  had  done.  And 
in  this  extent  of  his  and  Solomon's  dominions  was  fome 
refemblance  of  the  great  extent  of  Chrift's  kingdom ; 
and  therefore  the  extent  of  Chrift's  kingdom  is  fet  forth 
by  this  very  thing,  of  its  being  over  all  lands  from  the 
Red  Sea,  to  the  fea  of  the  Phihftines,  and  over  all  lands 
from  thence  to  the  river  Euphrates;  as  Pfal.  Ixxii.  8. 
*'  He  fhall  have  dominion  alfo  from  fea  to  fea,  and 
*'  and  from  the  river  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth."  Sec 
^Ifo  X  Kings  viii.  56. 

IX.  God  by  David  perfe61ed  the  Jewifh  worfhip,  and 
added  to  it  feveral  new  inftitutions.  The  law  was  given 
by  Mofea,  but  yet  all  the  inftitutions  of  the  Jewifh  wor- 
ifiip  were  not  given  by  Mofes  ;  fome  were  added  by  di- 
vnne  direftion.  So  this  greateft  of  all  perfonal  types  of 
Chrift,  did  not  only  perfe6l:  Jofnua's  work,  in  giving 
Ifrael  the  poifeffion  of  tlie  promifed  land,  but  he  alfo 

finifhed 


126  A  H  1  S  1'  O  R  Y    OF  Period  I. 

finiflied  Mofes's  wxDrk,  in  perfe6ling  the  inftituted  wor- 
fhip  of  Ifrael.  Thus  there  muft  be  a  number  of  typi- 
cal prophets,  prielts,  and  princes,  to  complete  one  fi- 
gure or  Ihadow  of  Chrift  the  antetype,  he  being  the 
iublhnce  of  all  the  types  and  fhadows.  Of  fo  much 
more  glory  was  Chrift  accounted  worthy,  than  Mofes, 
Jofhua,  David,  and  Solomon,  and  all  the  great  pro- 
phets, priefts,  and  princes,  judges,  and  favioiurs  of  the 
Old  Teftamcnt  put  together. 

The  ordinances  of  David  are  mentioned  as  of  parallel 
validity  with  thofe  of  Mofes,  2  Chron.  xxiii.  i8.  "  Alfo 
*'  Jehoiada  appointed  the  offices  of  the  houfe  of  the, 
**  Lord  by  the  hand  of  the  priefts  the  Levites,  whom  Da- 
*'  vid  had  diftributed  in  the  houfe  of  the  Lord,  to  offer' 
*•  the  burnt-offering  of  the  Lord,  as  it  is  written  in  the 
♦'  law  of  Mofes,  with  rejoicing  and  with  fmging,  as  it  was 
"  ordained  by  David."  The  worfhip  of  Ifrael  was  per- 
fected by  David,  by  the  addition  that  he  made  to  the  ce- 
xemonial  lav>r,  wiiich  we  have  an  account  of  in  the  23d, 
!24th,  25th,  and  26th chapters  of  the  firftbookof  Chro- 
nicles, confifting  in  the  feveral  orders  and  courfes  into 
which  David  divided  the  Levites,  and  the  work  and  bu- 
fniefs  to  which  he  appointed  the.m,  different  from  what 
Mofes  had  appointed  them  to ;  and  alfo  in  the  divifions 
of  the  priefts  the  fons  of  Aaron  into  four  and  twenty 
courfes,  affigning  to  every  courfe  their  bufmefs  in  the 
houfe  of  tlie  Lord,  and  their  particular  ftated  times  of 
attendance  there  :  and  appointing  fome  of  the  Levites 
to  a  new  office,  that  had  not  been  appointed  before  ; 
and  that  was  the  office  of  fingers,  and  particularly  or- 
dering and  legulating  of  them  in  that  office,  as  you  may 
fee  in  the  25th  chapter  of  ift  Chronicles  ;  and  appoint- 
ing others  of  the  Levites  by  law  to  the  feveral  fervices  of 
porters,  treafurers,  officers,  and  judges  :  and  thefe  ordi- 
iiances  of  David  were  kept  up  henceforth  in  the  church 
of  Ifrael,  as  long  as  the  Jewiffi  church  lafted.  Thus  we 
find  the  feveral  orders  of  priefts,  and  the  Levites,  the 
porters,  and  fingers,  after  the  captivity.  So  we  find  the 
courfes  of  the  priefts  appointed  by  David  ftill  continuing 
in  the  New  Teftamcnt ;  fo  Zacharias  the  father  of  John 
the  Baptift  was  a  prieft  of  the  courfe  of  Abia  ;  which 
is  the  fame  with  the  courfe  of  Abijah  appointed  by  Da^ 
vid,  that  we  read  of  1  Chron,  xxiv.  10, 

Thus 


Part  V.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      127 

Thus  David  as  well  as  Mofes  was  made  like  to  Chrift 
the  fon  of  David,  in  this  refpeft,  that  by  him  God  gave 
a  new  ecclefiaftical  eftablifhment,  and  new  inftitutions 
of  worfhip.  David  did  not  only  add  to  the  inflitutions 
of  Mofes,  but  by  thofe  additions  he  abolifhcd  fome  of 
the  old  inftitutions  of  Mofes  that  had  been  in  force  till 
that  time ;  particularly  thofe  laws  of  Mofes  that  appoint- 
ed  the  buhnefs  of  the  Levites,  which  we  have  in  the  3d 
and  4th  chapters  of  Numbers,  which  very  much  confifted 
in  their  charge  of  the  feveral  parts  and  utenfils  of  the 
tabernacle  there  affigned  to  them,  and  in  carrying  thofe 
feveral  parts  of  the  tabernacle.  But  thofe  laws  were 
now  abolifhed  by  David ;  and  they  were  no  more  to  car- 
ry thofe  things,  as  they  had  been  ufedtodotill  David's 
time.  But  David  appomted  them  to  other  work  inftead 
of  it ;  fee  1  Chron.  xxiii.  26.  "  And  alfo  unto  the  Le- 
*'  vites,  they  fhall  no  more  carry  the  tabernacle,  nor 
*'  any  velfclsof  it  for  the  fervice  thereof:"  A  fure  evi- 
dence that  the  ceremonial  law  given  by  Mofes  is  not 
perpetual,  as  the  Jews  fuppofe;  but  might  be  wholly 
abolifhed  by  Chrilt :  for  if  David,  a  type  of  theMelfiah, 
might  aboliih  the  law  of  Mofes  in  part,  much  more 
might  the  Mefhah  himfelf  abolifh  the  whole. 

David,  by  God's  appointment,  abolifhed  all  ufe  of  the 
tabernacle,  that  was  built  by  Mofes,  and  of  which  he  had 
the  pattern  from  God  :  for  God  now  revealed  it  to  Da- 
vid to  be  his  will,  that  a  temple  fhould  be  built,  that 
fliould  be  inftead  of  the  tabernacle  :  A  great  prefage  of 
what  Chrift,  the  fon  of  David,  would  do,  when  he  fhould 
come,  viz.  abolifh  the  whole  Jewifh  ecclefiaftical  confti- 
tution,  which  was  but  as  a  moveable  tabernacle,  to  fet 
up  the  fpiritual  gofpel-temple,  which  was  to  be  far  more 
glorious,  and  of  greater  extent,  and  was  tolaft  forever, 
David  had  the  pattern  of  all  thmgs  pertaining  to  the 
temple  fhowed  him,  even  in  like  manner  as  Mofes  had 
the  pattern  of  the  tabernacle ;  and  Solomon  built  the 
temple  according  to  that  pattern  which  he  had  from  his 
father  David,  which  he  received  from  God,  1  Chron. 
xxviii.  11.  12.  "Then  David  gave  to  Solomon  his  fon  the 
*'  pattern  of  the  porch,  and  of  the  houfes  thereof,  and  of 
*'  the  treafuries  thereof  and  of  the  upper  chambers 
**  thereof,  and  of  the  inner  parlours  thereof,  and  of 
**  the  place  of  the  mercy-feat,  and  the  pattern  of  all 


128  A   HISTORY   Off  Period  I. 

*•  that  he  had  by  the  fpirit,  of  the  courts  of  the  houfd: 
"  of  the  Lord,  and  of  all  the  chambers  round  about,  of 
**  the  treafuries  of  the  houle  of  God,  and  of  the  trea- 
"  furies  of  the  dedicate  things."  And,  ver.  19.  "All 
"  this,  faid  David,  the  Lord  made  me  underhand  in 
"  writing  by  his  hand  upon  me,  even  all  the  works  of 
*'  this  pattern." 

X.  the  canon  of  fcripture  feems  at  or  after  the  clofe 
of  David's  reign  to  be  added  to  by  the  prophets  Nathan 
and  Gad.  It  appears  probable  by  the  fcriptuies,  that  they 
carried  on  the  hiftor)'  of  the  two  books  of  Samuel  from 
the  place  where  Samuel  left  it,  and  finifhed  it.  Thefe 
two  books  of  Samuel  feem  to  be  the  book  that  in  fcrip- 
ture is  called  the  book  oj  Samutl  the  Jeer  ^  and  Nathan  the 
prophet^  and  Gad  the  Jeer,  as  m  1  Chron.  xxix.  29. 
"  Now  the  ads  of  David  the  King,  firft  and  lalf ,  behold, 
"  they  are  written  in  the  book  oi  Samuel  the  feer,  and 
*'  in  the  book  of  Nathan  the  prophet,  and  in  the  book 
*'  of  Gad  the  feer." 

XL  The  next  thing  I  would  take  notice  of,  is  God's 
wonderfully  continuing  the  kingdom  of  his  viOble  people 
in  the  line  of  Chrill's  legal  ancellors,  as  long  as  they  re- 
mained an  independent  kingdom.  1  hus  it  was  without 
any  interruption  worth  takmg  notice.  Indeed  the  king- 
dom of  all  the  tribes  of  Ifrael  was  not  kept  in  that  hue ; 
but  the  dominion  of  that  part  of  Ifrael  in  which  the 
true  worfhip  of  God  was  upheld,  and  fo  of  that  part 
that  were  God's  vifible  people,  was  always  kept  in  the 
family  of  David,  as  long  as  there  was  any  fuch  thing  as 
an  independent  king  of  Ifrael ;  according  to  his  promifc 
to  David :  and  not  only  in  the  family  of  David,  but  al- 
ways in  that  part  of  David's  poftcrity  that  was  the  line 
whence  Chrift  was  legally  defcended ;  fo  that  the  very 
perfon  that  was  Chrill's  legal  anceftor  was  always  in  the 
throne,  excepting  Jehoahaz,  who  reigned  three  months, 
and  Zedekiah  :  as  you  may  fee  in  Matthew's  genealogy 
of  Chrilh 

Chrift  was  legally  defcended  from  the  kings  of  Judah, 
though  he  was  not  naturally  defcended  from  them.  He 
was  both  legally  and  naturally  defcended  from  David. 
He  was  naturally  defcended  from  Nathan  the  fon  of 
David  ;  for  Mary  his  mother  was  one  of  the  pofterity  of 
David  by  Nathan,  as  you  may  fee  in  Luke's  genealogy' : 

but 


Part  V.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      129 

but  Jofeph,  the  reputed  and  legal  father  of  Chrift,  was 
naturally  defcended  of  Solomon  and  his  fucceffors,  as 
we  have  an  account  in  Matthew's  genealogy.  Jefus 
Chrift,  though  he  was  not  the  natural  fon  of  Jol'eph, 
yet,  by  the  law  and  conftitution  of  the  Jews,  he  was  Jo- 
fcph's  heir ;  becaufe  he  was  the  lawful  fon  of  Jofeph's 
lawful  wife,  conceived  while  (he  was  his  legally  efpouf- 
ed  wife.  The  Holy  Ghofl  raifed  up  feed  to  him.  A 
perfon,  by  the  law  of  Mofes,  might  be  the  legal  fon  and 
heir  of  another,  whofe  natural  fon  he  was  not ;  as  fome- 
times  a.  man  raifed  up  feed  to  his  brother  ;  a  brother, 
in  fome  cafes,  was  to  build  up  a  brother "s  houfe ;  fo 
the  Holy  Gholl  built  up  Jofeph's  houfe. 

And  Jofeph  being  in  the  direft  line  of  the  kings  of 
Judah,  of  the  houfe  of  David,  he  was  the  legal  heir  of 
the  crown  of  David  ;  and  Cliiifl  being  legally  his  firll- 
born  fon,  he  was  his  heir ;  and  fo  Chrift,  by  the  law, 
was  the  proper  heir  of  the  crown  of  David,  and  is 
therefore  faid  to  fit  upon  the  throne  of  his  father  Da- 
vid. 

The  crown  of  God's  people  was  wonderfully  kept 
in  the  line  of  Chrift's  legal  anceftiDrs.  When  David 
was  old,  and  not  able  any  longer  to  manage  the  affairs 
of  the  kingdom,  Adonijah,  one  of  his  fons,  fet  up  to  be 
king,  and  feemed  to  have  obtained  his  purpoie  ;  all 
things  for  a  while  feemed  fair  on  his  fide,  and  he  thought 
himfelf  ftrong  ;  the  thing  he  aimed  at  feemed  to  be  ac- 
complifhed.  But  fo  it  was,  Adonijah  was  not  the  foa 
of  David  that  was  the  ancellor  of  Jofeph,  the  legal  fa- 
ther of  Chrift ;  and  therefore  how  wonderfully  did  Pro- 
vidence work  here  !  what  a  flrange  and  fudden  revolu- 
tion !  all  Adonijah's  kingdom  and  glory  vanilhed  away 
as  foon  as  it  was  begun  ;  and  Solomon,  the  legal  an- 
cellor of  Chrift,  was  eftablifhed  in  the  throne. 

And  after  Solomon's  death,  when  Jeroboam  had 
confpired  againft  the  family,  and  Rehoboam  carried 
himfelf  fo  that  it  was  a  wonder  all  Ifrael  was  not  pro- 
voked to  forfake  him,  and  ten  tribes  did  a£iually  forfake 
him,  and  fet  up  Jeroboam  in  oppofition  to  him ;  and 
though  he  was  a  wicked  man,  and  deferved  to  have 
been  rejefted  altogether  from  being  king ;  yet  he  being 
the  legal  anceftor  of  Chrift,  God  kept  the  kingdom  of 
T.he  two  tribes,  in  which  the  true  religion  was  upheld, 
O  m 


iSo'  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   G/  Period  h 

in  his  pofTefTion  :  and  though  he  had  besn  wiclLcd,  and 
his  fon  Abijam  was  another  wicked  prince ;  yet  they 
being  legal  anceftors  of  Chrill,  God  lli-11  continued  the 
crown  in  the  family,  and  gave  it  to  Abijani's  fon  Afa.- 
And  afterwards,  thoi'^gh  many  of  the  kings  of  Judah 
were  very  wicked  men,  and  horribly  provoked  God, 
as  particularly  Jehoram,  Ahaziah,  Ahaz,  Manaffah,  and 
Anion  ;  yet  God  did  not  take  away  the  crown  from 
their  family,  but  gave  it  to  their  fons,  beCaufe  they  were' 
the  anccilors  of  Chiift.  God's  remembering  his  cove- 
nant that  he  had  eifablifhed  with  David,  is  given  as  the- 
reafon  why  God  did  thus,  notwithftanding  their  wicked 
lives ;  as-  i  Kin'gs  xv.  4.  fpeaking  there  of  Abijam's 
wickednefs,  it  is  faid,  "  Nevertheiefs,  for  David's  fake 
*'  did  the  Lord  his  Godgi ve  him  a  larnp  in  Jerufalem, 
*'  to  fet  up  his  fon  after  him,  and  to  eflablilh  Jerufa- 
"  lem  :"  fo,  2  Chron.  xxi.  7.  fpeaking  there  of  Jeho- 
ram's  great  v.'ickednefs,  it  is  faid,  "  Howbeit  the  Lord 
*'  would  i:xDt  deft roy  the  houfe  of  David,  becaufe  of  the 
^'  covenant  that  he  had  made  with  David,  and  as  he 
'^'  promifed  to- give  a  light  unto  him,  and  to  his  fons 
*'  for  ever." 

The  crown  of  the  ten  tribes  was  changed  from  ons 
^mily  to  another  continually.  Firll,  Jeroboam  took  it ; 
But  the  crown  remained  in  hi|  family  but  for  one  gene- 
ration after  his  death  ;  it  oirly  defcended  to  his  fon  Na- 
i'dh  :  and  then  Baafha^ that  was  of  another  family,  took 
it ;  and  it  remained  in  his  pofierity  but  one  generation 
after  his  death  :  and"  their  Zimri,  that  v/as  his  fervant,. 
and  not  of  hi5  poilt-rity,  took  it  ;  and  then,  without  dc- 
fcending  at  all  to  his  pofterity,  Omri,  that  ^vas-of  ano- 
ther family,  took  it ;  and  the  crown  continued  in  his 
family  for  three  fiicceffions  :  ai>d  then  Jehu,  that  ^va3 
©f  another  family,  took  it ;  and  the  crown  continued  ii> 
his  family  far  three  or  four  fncceflions:  aiid  then  Shal- 
Inm,  that  was  of  another  family,  took  it ;  and  t'je  crown 
did  not  d^fccnd  at  all  to  his  poflerity ;  but  Menahem, 
that  was  of  another  family,  took  it ;  and  it  remained  m 
his  family  but  one  generation  after  him :  and  then  Pe- 
kah,  that  Vv'as"  o^  another  family,  took  it :  and  after  him 
liolhca,  that  was  IHll  of  another  family,  took  it :  fo 
great  a  difference  was  there  l)etween  the  cro^vn  of  Ifrael 
aiid  the  cruwn  of  Judah  ;  the  one  was  coiiiiiiued  ever- 
more 


Part  V.      The  V/ork  of  REDEMPTION.     13; 

jnore  in  the  fame  family,  and  with  very  little  interrup- 
tion, in  one  right  line  ;  the  other  was  continually  toffed 
about  from  one  family  to  another,  as  if  it  were  the  fport 
of  fortune.  The  reafon  was  not,  becaufe  the  kings  of 
Judah,  many  of  them,  were  better  than  the  kings  of  If- 
rael ;  but  the  one  had  the  blefling  in  them  ;  they  were 
the  anceftors  of  Chrift,  ^vhofe  right  it  was  to  fit  on 
the  throne  of  Ifrael.  But  witii  the  kings  of  Ifrael  it 
was  not  fo ;  and  therefore  divine  providence  exercifed 
a  continual  care,  through  all  the  chang^?s  that  happen- 
ed through  fo  many  generations,  and  fuch  a  long  f|)ace 
of  time,  to  keep  the  crown  of  Judah  in  one  direct  line, 
in  fulfilment  of  the  everlafting  covenant  he  had  made 
with  David,  the  mercies  of  which  covenant  were  fjre 
mercies  ;  but  in  the  other  cafe  there  was  no  fucli  co- 
venant, ar.d  fo  no  fuch  care  of  Providence. 

And  here  itmuft  not  be  omitted,  that  there  vras  once 
4  very  ftrong  confpiracy  of  the  kings  of  Syria  and  If- 
rael, in  the  time  of  that  wicked  king  of  Judah,  Abaz, 
^o  difpoffefs  Ahaz  and  his  family  of  the  throne  of  Ju? 
liah,  and  to  fet  one  of  another  family,  even  the  fon  of 
Tabeai,  on  it ;  as  you  may  fee  in  If.  vii.  6.  "  Let  us  go 
*'  up  againft  Judah,  and  vex  it,  and  let  us  make  a 
f  breach  th^erein  for  us,  and  fet  a  king  in  the  midit  of 
*'  it,  even  the  fon  of  Tabeai,"  And  they  feemed  very 
likely  to  accomplifli  their  pui-pofe.  There  feemed  to  be 
fo  great  a  likelihood  of  it,  that  the  hearts  of  the  people 
funk  ^vithin  them ;  they  gave  up  the  caufe.  It  is  faid, 
*'  The  heart  of  Ahaz  and  his  people  was  m.oved  as  the 
^'  trees  of  the  Avood  are  moved  with  the  wind."  And 
on  this  occaficn  God  fent  the  prophet  Jfaiah  to  encou- 
rage the  people,  and  tell  them  that  it  fhould  not  come 
to  pafs.  And  becaufe  it  looked  fo  much  like  a  gone 
caufe,  that  Ahaz  and  the  people  vrould  very  difficultly 
believe  that  it  would  not  be,  therefpre  God  dirc61s  the 
prophet  to  give  them  this  fign  of  ir,  viz.  that  Chrill 
jhouid  be  horn  of  the  legal  feed  of  Ahaz  ;  as  If.  vii, 
14.  "  Therefore  the  Lord  himfelf  fhall  give  you  a  fign  : 
^'  Behold,  a  virgin  fhall  conceive,  and  bear  a  fon,  and 
*'  fliall  call  his  name  Immanuel."  This  was  a  go^d 
fign,  and  a  great  confnmation  of  the  truth  of  what  God 
piomifed  by  Ifaiah,  viz.  that  the  kings  ^  Syria  and 
Jfrael  (hould  -never  accomplifh  tlieir  purprofe  of  (iif-, 
Q  3  poJIe.Tiiiff 


\^^2.  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  I. 

poireffing  the  family  of  Ahaz  of  the  crown  of  Judah, 
and  fetting  up  the  fon  of  Tabeal ;  for  Chrifl  the  Imma- 
nuel  was  to  be  of  them. 

I  have  mentioned  this  difpenfation  of  Providence  in, 
this  place,  becaufe  though  it  was  continued  for  fo  long 
a  time,  yet  it  began  in  Solomon's  fucceflion  to  the 
throne  of  his  father  David. 

XII.  The  next  thing  I  would  take  notice  of  is,  the 
building  of  the  temple:  a  great  type  of  three  things,  viz. 
of  Chriit,  efpecially  the  human  nature  of  Chrift  ;  o£ 
the  church  of  Chrift ;  and  of  Keaven.  The  tabernacle 
feem.ed  rather  to  reprefent  the  church  in  its  moveable, 
changeable  ftate,  here  in  this  world.  But  that  beauti- 
ful, glorious,  coftly  ftrufture  of  the  temple,  that  fuc- 
ceeded  the  tabernacle,  and  was  a  fixed,  and  not  a  move- 
able thing,  feems  efpecially  to  reprefent  the  church  in 
its  glorified  ftate  in  heaven.  This  temple  was  built  ac- 
cording to  the  pattern  fiiown  by  the  Holy  Ghoft  to 
David,  and  by  divine  direction  given  to  David,  in  the 
place  where  was  the  threfliing-iloor  of  Oman  the  Jebu- 
fue,  in  Mount  Moriah,  2  Chron.  iii.  1.  in  the  fame 
mountain,  and  doubtlefs  in  the  very  fiim.e  place,  where 
Abraham  offered  up  his  fon  Ifaac  ;  for  that  is  faid  to 
be  a  miOimtain  in  the  land  of  Moriah,  Gen.  xxii.  2. 
which  mountain  was  called  the  mountain  of  the  Lord ^^^ 
this  moim^ain  of  the  temple  was.  Gen.  xxii.  14.  "And 
*'  Abraham  called  the  name  of  that  place  Jehovah-ji- 
*'  reh;  as  it  is  faid  to  this  day,  in  the  mount  of  the 
"  Lord  it  fliall  be  feen." 

Tliis  was  the  hoiife  where  Chrift  dwelt,  till  he  came 
to  dwell  in  tiie  temple  of  his  body,  or  human  nature, 
v»'hich  was  the  ante'ype  of  this  temple  ;  as  appears,  be- 
caufe Chrift,  on  occafion  of  fliOwing  him  the  temple  of 
Terufalem,  fays,  _"  Deftroy  this  temple,  and  in  three  days 
*'  will  I  raife  it  up,"  fpeaking  of  the  temple  of  his  bo- 
dy, John  ii.  19.  20.  This  houfe,  or  an  houfe  built  in 
this  place,  continued  to  be  the  houfe  of  God,  the  place 
of  the  worftiip  of  his  church,  till  Chrift  came.  Kere 
was  the  place  that  Godchofe,  where  all  their  facrifices 
were  offered  up,  till  the  great  facrifice  came,  and  made 
the  ficrihice  and  oblation  to  ceafe.  Into  bis  temple  in 
this  place  tl^  Lord  came,  even  the  m-eflbnger  of  the  co- 
venant.   He:  c  he  often  delivered  his  heavenly  doftrine, 

and 


Part  V.      The  V/ork  of  REDEMPTION.      133 

and  wrought  miracles  ;  here  his  church  was  gathered 
by  tlie  pouring  out  of  the  fpirit,  after  his  afccnfion. 
Luke  xxiv.  53.  fpeaking  of  the  difciplcs,  after  Chriil's 
afcenfion,  it  is  faid,  "and  they  were continuaily  in  the 
**  temple,  prailing  and  blei&ng  God."  And,  A6is  ii.  46. 
fpeaking  of  the  mul.itudes  that  were  converted  by  that 
great  outpouring  of  the  fpirit  that  was  on  the  day  of 
Pentecoll,  it  is  laid,  "  And  they  continued  daily  with 
*'  one  accord  in  the  temple."  And,  Acls  v.  42.  fpeak- 
ing of  the  apoftles,  "And  daily  in  the  temple,  and  in 
"  every  houfe,  they  ceafe.d  not  to  teach  and  preach  Jefus 
**  Chriit."  And  hence  the  found  of  the  gofpel  went 
forth,  and  the  church  fpread  into  all  the  world. 

XIII.  It  is  here  worthy  to  be  obferved,  that  at  this' 
time,  in  Solomon's  reign,  after  the  temple  was  finifficd, 
the  Jewiih  church  was  rifen  to  its  higheff  external  glory. 
The  Jewiih  church,  or  the  ordinances  and  conftitution 
of  it,  is  comapared  to  die  moon,  in  Rev.  xii.  1.  "And 
*'  there  appeared  a  great  wonder  in  Heaven,  a  woman 
*'  cloathed  with  the  fun  and  the  moon  under  her  feet, 
"  and  upon  her  head  a  crown  of  twelve  flars."    As  this 
church  was  like  the  moon  in  many  other  rcfpecls,  fo  it 
was  in   this,  that  it  waxed  and  waned  like   the  mxoon. 
From  the  firll  foundation  of  it,  that  was  laid  in  the  co- 
venant made  with  Abraham,  v/hen  this  moon  was  now 
beginning  to  appear,  it  had  to  this  time  been  gradually 
jncreafmg  in  its  glory.    This  time,  wherein  the  temple 
was   finilhed  and  dedicated,  was  about  the  middle  be- 
tween the  calling  of  Abraham  and  the  coming  of  Chrift, 
and  now  it  was  lull  moon.    After  this  tlie  glory  of  the 
Jewifh  church  gradually  decreafed,  till   Chrill  came  ; 
as  I  fhall  have  occahon  m.ore  particularly  to  obferve  af- 
terwards. 

■  Now  the  church  of  Ifrael  was  in  its  higheft  external 
glory :  Now  Ifrael  was  multiplied  exceedingly,  fo  that 
t^iey  feem  to  have  become  like  the  fand  on  the  fea- 
fliore,  1  Kings  iv.  20.  Now  the  kingdom  of  Ifrael  was 
firmly  eftabliihed  in  the  right  famiily,  the  family  cf 
which  Chrift  vv- as  to  comiC  :  Now^  God  had  chofen  the 
city  where  he  would  place  his  name:  Now  God  liad 
fully  given  his  people  the  poffcffion  of  the  promllcd 
land  ;  and  they  now  pofiefred  the  dominion  of  it  all  in 
^uieUefs  and  peace,  even  from  the  river  of  Eg>T^  ^^ 

the 


i34  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Period  L 

the  great  river  Euphrates  ;  all  thofe  nations  that  had 
formerly  been  their  enemies,  quietly  fubmitted  to  them  ; 
jione  pretended  to  rebel  againft  them  : — Now  the  Jew- 

^lli  M-odhip  in  all  its  ordinances  was  fully  fettled  : 

Now,  inftead  of  a  fnoveable  tent  and  tabernacle,  they 
had  a  glorious  temple ;  the  moft  magnificent,  beauti- 
ful, and  coftly  ftrudure,  that  there  was  tlren,  ever  had 
been,  or  ever  has  been  fince :  Now  the  people  enjoyed 
peace  and  plenty,  and  fat  every  man  under  his  vine 
and  fig-tree,  eatuig  and  drinking  and  making  merry, 
as  1  Kings  iv.  20. — Now  they  were  in  the  highefi 
pitch  of  earthly  profperity,  filver  being  as  plenty  as 
ifones,  and  the  land  full  of  gold,  and  precious  floncs, 
and  other  precious  foreign  commodities,  which  ^vere 
brought  by  Solomon's  fhips  from  Ophir  ^nd  which 
came  from  other  parts  of  the  world  : — Now  they  had 
a  king  reigning  over  them  that  was  the  wifeft  of  men, 
and  probably  the  greateft  earthly  prince  that  ever  was  : 
■ — Now  their  fame  went  abroad  into  all  the  earth,  fp 
that  they  came  from  the  utmioft  parts  of  the  earth  to 
fee  their  glory  arid  their  happineis. 

Thus  God  was  pleafed,  in  one  of  the  anceflors  of 
Chrift,  remiarkably  to  fliadow  forth  ijie  kingdom  of 
Chrift  reigning  m  his  glory.  David,  that  was  a  man  of 
war,  a  man  who  had  fhed  much  blood,  and  whpfe  lif? 
was  full  of  troubles  and  conflifls,  was  more  of  a  repre- 
fcntation  of  Chrifl  in  his  flate  of  humiliation,  his  mi- 
litant flate,  \vherein  he  was  confli6]ing  with  liis  ene- 
jnies.  But  Solomon  that  was  a  man  of  peace,  was  a 
icprefcntation  more  efpecially  of  Chrifl  exalted,  tri- 
umphing, and  reigning  in  his  kingdom  of  peace.  And 
the  happy  glorious  frate  of  the  Jewifh  church  at  that 
time,  did  rcm.arkably  reprefent  two  things:  1.  That 
laborious  flate  of  the  church  on  earth,  that  fhall  be  in 
the  latter  ages  of  the  world ;  thofe  days  of  peace,  when 
nation  fliall  not  lift  fword  againfl  nation,  nor  learn  war 
any  more.  2.  The  future  glorified  flate  of  the  church  iii 
Heaven.  The  earthly  Canaan  never  was  fo  lively  a  type 
of  the  Heavenly  Canaan  as  it  was  then,  when  the  hap- 
py people  of  Ifrael  did  indeed  enjoy  it  as  a  land  flowing 
with  milk  and  honey. 

XIV.  After  diis  the  glory  of  the  Jewifh  church  gra- 
{liially  declined  mpre  and  more  till  Cjirifl  came ;  yet  not 


Part  V.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     135. 

fo  but  that  the  work  of  redemption  fllll  went  on. 
Whatever  failed  or  declined,  God  i\i\\  carried  on  this 
work  from  age  to  age  ;  this  building  was  ftill  advancing 
higher  and  higher.  Things  ftill  went  on,  during  the 
dechne  of  the  Jcwifti  church,  towards  a  furtlier  prepa- 
ration of  things  for  the  coming  of  Chrift,  as  well  as 
during  its  increaf'e  ;  for  fo  wondei  fully  were  things  or- 
dered by  the  infinitely  wife  governor  of  the  world,  that 
whatever  happened  was  ordered  for  good  to  this  gene- 
ral defign,  and  made  a  means  of  promoting  it.  When 
the  people  of  the  Jews  flourifhed,  and  were  in  profpe- 
rity,  he  made  that  to  contribute  to  the  promoting  this 
dtCign ;  and  when  they  ^vere  in  adverfity,  God  made 
that  alfo  to  contribute  to  the  carrying  on  of  the  fame 
defign.  While  the  Jewifh  church  was  in  its  increafmg 
ilate,  the  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  by  their 
increafe ;  and  when  they  came  to  their  declining  ftate, 
which  they  were  in  from  Solomon's  time  till  Chrift, 
God  carried  on  the  work  of  redemption  by  that.  That 
decline  itfelf  was  one  thing  that  God  made  ufe  of  as 
a  further  preparation  for  Chrift's  coming. 

As  the  moon,  from  the  tim.e  of  its  full,  is  approach- 
ino-  nearer  and  nearer  to  her  coniunclion  with  the  fun  ; 
fo  her  light  is  fliil  more  and  more  decreafmg,  till  at 
length,  when  the  conjunftion  comes,  it  is  wholly  fwal- 
lowed  up  in  the  light  of  the  fun.  So  it  v/as  wiih  the 
Jewifh  church  from  the  time  of  its  higheft  glory  in  So- 
lomon's time.  In  the  latter  end  of  Solomon's  reign, 
the  ftate  of  things  began  to  darken,  by  Solomon's  cor- 
rupting himfclf  with  idolatry,  which  much  obfcured  the 
glory  of  this  mighty  and  wife  prince  ;  and  withal  trou- 
bles began  to  arife  in  his  kingdom ;  and  after  his  death 
the  kingdom  was  divided,  and  ten  tribes  revolted,  and 
withdiew  their  fubje6Hon  from  the  houfe  of  Da\'id, 
withal  falling  av/ay  from  the  true  ^vorflrip  of  God  in 
the  temple  at  Jerufalem,  and  ^ttin^x  up  the  golden  calves 
of  Bethel  and  Dan.  And  prcfently  after  this  the  num- 
ber of  the  ten  tribes  was  greatly  diminiflied  in  tlie  battle 
of  Jeroboam  with  Abijah,  wherein  there  fell  down 
flain  of  Ifrael  five  hundred  thoufand  chofcn  men  ; 
which  lofs  the  kingdom  of  Ifrael  probably  never  in  any 
mcafure  recovered. 

The  ten  tribes  finally  apodatifed  from  the  true  GqcI 
under  Jeroboam,  and  the  kingd»om  of  Judah  was  grear- 

iy 


136  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  L 

ly  corrupted,  and  from  that  time  forward  were  more 
generally  in  a  corrupt  ilate  than  otherwife.  In  Ahab's 
time  the  kingdom  of  Ifrael  did  not  only  worfhip  the 
calves  of  Bethel  and  Dan,  but  the  worlhip  of  Baal  was 
introduced.  Before  they  pretended  to  worfhip  the  true 
God  by  thefe  images,  the  calves  of  Jeroboam  ;  but  now 
Ahab  introduced  grofs  idolatry,  and  the  diretf  worfiiip 
of  falfe  gods  in  the  room  of  the  true  God  ;  and  foon 
after  the  worfhip  of  Baal  was  introduced  into  the  king- 
dom of  Judah,  VIZ.  in  Jehoram's  reign,  by  his  marr)'- 
ing  Athaliah,  the  daughter  of  Ahab.  After  this  God 
began  to  cut  Ifrael  fhort,  by  finally  deftroying  and  fend- 
ing into  captivity  that  part  of  the  land  that  was  beyond 
Jordan,  as  you  may  fee  in  2  Kings  x.  32.  &c.  And 
then  after  this  Tiglath-Pilezer  ftibducd  and  captivated 
ail  the  northern  parts  of  the  land  ;  2  Kings  xv.  29.  and 
then  at  lafl;  all  the  land  of  the  ten  tribes  was  fubdued  by 
Salmanefer,  and  they  were  finally  carried  captive  out 
of  their  own  land.  After  this  alfo  the  kingdom  of 
Judah  was  carried  captive  into  Babylon,  and  a  great 
part  of  the  nation  never  returned.  Thofe  that  return- 
ed were  but  a  fmall  number,  compared  with  what  had 
been  carried  captive  ;  and  for  the  moft  part  after  this 
they  were  dependent  on  the  power  of  other  Hates,  be- 
ing fubjeft  one  while  to  the  kings  of  Perfia,  then  to  the 
monarchy  of  the  Grecians,  and  then  to  the  Romans. 
And  before  Chriil's  time,  the  church  of  the  Jews  was 
become  exceeding  corrupt,  over-run  with  fuperftition 
and  felf-righteoufnefs.  And  how  fmall  a  flock  was  the 
church  of  Chrifl  in  the  da)^s  of  his  incarnation  ! 

God,  by  this  gradual  decline  of  the  Jewifh  ffate  and 
church  from  Solomon's  time,  prepared  the  way  for  the 
coming  of  Chriil  feveral  ways. 

1.  The  decline  of  the  glory  of  this  legal  difpenfation, 
made  way  for  the  introduction  of  the  more  glorious 
difpenfation  of  the  gofpel*  I'he  decline  of  theglor)'-  of 
the  legal  difpenfation,  was  to  make  way-^br  the  intro- 
duftion  of  the  evangelical  difpenfation,  that  was  fo  much 
more  glorious,  that  the  l^-ral  difpenfation  had  no  glory 
in  comparifon  wi:h  it.  Tlie  glory  of  the  ancient  dif- 
penfation, fuch  as  it  was  in  Solom.on's  time,  confifling 
fo  much  in  external  glory,  was  but  a  childifli  glory, 
compared  with  the  fuiritual  glory  of  the  difpenfation 

introduced 


Part  V.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     137- 

introduced  by  Chrift.  The  church,  under  the  Old 
Tellament,  was  a  child  under  tutors  and  governors, 
and  God  dealt  with  it  as  a  child.  Thofc  pompous  ex- 
ternals are  called  by  the  apoftle,  weak  and  beggarly  elt^ 
meats.  It  was  fit  that  thofe  thuigs  Ihould  be  diniinifli- 
ed  as  Chrift  approached  ;  as  John  the  Baptiil,  the  fore- 
runner of  Chriif,  fpeaking  of  Chrill,  fays,  "  He  muft 
*'  increafe,  but  I  muft  decreafe,"  John  iii.  30.  It  is  fit 
that  the  twinkling  ftars  Ihould  gradually  withdraw  their 
glory,  when  the  fun  is  approaching  towards  his  rifmg. 
The  glory  of  the  Jewifh  difpenfation  muft  be  gradually 
diminilhcd,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  more  joyful  re- 
ception of  the  fpiritual  glory  of  the  gofpcl.  If  die  Jew- 
ilh  church,  when  Chrift  came,  had  been  in  the  fame 
external  glory  that  it  was  in,  in  the  reign  of  Solomon, 
n\i^\\  would  have  had  their  eyes  fo  dazzled  with  it,  that 
they  would  not  have  been  likely  joyfully  to  exchange 
fuch  great  external  glory,  for  onl)^  the  fpiritual  glory 
of  the  poor  defpifed  Jefus.     Again, 

2.  This  gradual  decline  of  the  glory  of  the  Jewifh 
ilate,  tended  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrift's  coming  an- 
other way,  viz.  as  it  tended  to  make  the  glory  of  God's 
power,  in  the  great  efiPefts  of  Chrift's  redemption,  the 
more  confpicuous.  God's  people's  being  fo  diminifhed 
and  weakened  by  one  ftep  after  another,  till  Chrift 
came,  was  very  much  like  the  diminilhing  Gideon's  ar- 
my. God  told  Gideon  that  the  people  that  was  with 
him,  was  too  many  for  him  to  deliver  the  Midianites 
into  their  hands,  left  Ifrael  fhould  vaunt  themfelves  a- 
gainft  him,  faying,  "  My  o\v^n  hand  hath  faved  me.'* 
And  therefore  all  that  were  fearful  were  commanded  to 
return ;  and  there  returned  twenty  and  two  thou- 
fand,  and  there  remained  ten  thoufand.  But  ftill  they 
were  too  many ;  and  then,  by  trying  the  people  at  the 
water,  they  were  reduced  to  three  hundred  men.  So 
tlie  people  in  Solomon's  time  were  too  many,  and 
mighty,  and  glorious  for  Chrift ;  therefore  he  dimi- 
nifhed them  ;  firft,  by  fending  off  the  ten  tribes  ;  and 
then  he  diminiflied  them  again  by  the  captivity  fhto  Ba- 
bylon :  and  then  they  were  further  diminifhed  by  the 
great  and  general  corruption  that  there  w^as  when  Chrift 
came  ;  fo  that  Chrift  found  very  few  godly  perfons 
among  them :  ^d  with  a  frnall  handful  of  difciplcs, 
P  Chrift 


^38  A   H  I  S  T  O  H  Y  pt  Period  t 

Chrifr  cOxnqr.cred  the  world.     Thus  high  things  were 
brought  down,  that  Chrift  might'he  exalted. 

3.  This  prepared  the  way  for  Chriil's  coTning,  as  it 
inade  the  Talvation  of  thofe  Jews  that  were  hvcd  hy 
"Chrift,  to  be  more  fcnfible  and  vinble.  Though  the 
greatcf  part  of  the  nation  of  the  Jews  was  rejetied,  and 
the  Gentiles  called  in  their  room  ;  yet  there  were  a 
great  many  thoufands  of  the  Jews  that  were  f^^ved  by 
Chriri  after  his  refurre61ion,  Afis  xxi.  20.  They  being 
taken  from  fo  low  a  ftate  under  temporal  calamity  in- 
their  bondage  to  the  Rom.ans,  and  from  a  ^ate  of  great 
fnperflition  and  wickednefs,  that  the  Jewifii  nation  was' 
then  fallen  into ;  it  made  their  redemption  the  more 
i'enfibly  and  vifibly  glorious. 

I  have  taken  notice  of  this  difpenfation  of  providence 
in.  the  gradual  decline  of  the  Jewifli  church  in  this 
place,  becaufe  it  began  in  the  reign  of  Solomon. 

XV.  1  would  here  take  notice  of  the  additions  thr.i 
tvere  made  to  the  canon  of  fcriptnre  in  or  foon  after 
the  reign  of  Solomon.  There  were  confiderable  addi- 
tions made  by  Solomon  himfelf,  who  wrote  the  books  of 
Proverbs  and  Ecclefialles,  probably  near  the  clofe  of  hi;? 
reign.  His  writing  the  Song  of  Song?,  as  it  is  called, 
is  what  is  eipecially  here  to  be  taken  notice  of,  which  h 
tvholly  on  the  fubjeft  that  we  are  upon,  viz.  Chrift  and 
his  redemption,  reprefenting  the  high  and  glorious  re- 
lation, and  union,  and  love,' that  is  between  Chrift  anc? 
his  redeemed  church.  And  the  hiftory  of  the  fcrip- 
tures  feems,  in  Solomon's  reign,  and  fome  of  the  next 
fucceeding  reigns,  to  have  been  added  to  by  the  pro- 
pliets  Nathan  and  Ahijah,  and  Shemaiah  and  Iddo. 
It  is  probable  that  part  of  the  hiftory  which  we  have 
in  the  firft  o-f  Kings,  was  written  by  them,  by  what  is 
faid  2'  Chron.  ix.  29.  and  in  chap.  xii.  15.  and  in  chap. 
:Kiii.  22. 

XVI.  God^s  wonderfully  upholding  his  church  and 
ilie  true  rehgion  through  this  period.  It  was  ver)-  won- 
derful, .confidering  the  many  and  great  apoftafies  that 
there  were  of  that  people  to  idolatiy.  When  the  ten 
tribes  had  generally  and  finally  forfaken  the  true  wor- 
fnip  of  God,  God  kept  up  the  true  religion  in  the  king- 
dom of  Jiidah  ;  and  when  they  corrupted  thcmfelves, 

as 


Part  V.     The  Work  of  REDEMFI^ION.     139 

iis  tlicy  very  often  did  exceedingly,  and  idolatiy  was 
jready  totally  to  fwallow  all  up,  yet  God  kept  the  lamp 
alive,  and  was  often  pleafed  when  things  fee  ned  to  be 
comfc  to  an  extremity,  and  religion  at  its  lafl  gafp,  to 
grant  blcffed  revivals  by  remarkable  outpomings  of  his 
Ipirit,  paiticularly  in  ficzekiah's  and  Jofiah's  tunc. 

XVII.  God  remarkably  kept  the  book  of  tlie  law 
from  being  loll  in  times  of  general  and  long-continue<l 
neglect  of  and  enmity  againil:  it.  The  rnoil  remarka- 
ble inllance  of  this  kind  that  w^e  have,  was  the  prefer- 
vat.on  of  the  book  of  the  law  in  the  tim<£  of  the  great 
^poflafy  dming  the  greatell  part  of  tlie  long  reign  of 
Manalfah,  which  lalted  fifty-five  years,  and  then  after 
that  the  reifn  of  Amon  his  fon.  This  while  the  book 
of  the  law  was  io  much  neglefted,  and  fuch  a  carelcf^ 
and  profane  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  temphj; 
prevailed,  that  the  book  of  the  law,  that  ufed  to  be 
laid  up  by  the  fide  of  the  ark  in  the  Holy  of  Holies, 
was  loll  for  a  long  time ;  no  body  knew  where  it  was. 
Biit  yet  God  prefer^•ed  it  from  bcijig  finally  loft.  In 
Jofiah's  time,  when  they  came  to  repair  the  temple,  it 
was  found  buried  in  rubbidi,  after  it  had  been  loft  fo 
long  that  Jofiah  himfelf  feems  to  have  been  much  a. 
Granger  to  it  till  nou'.     See  2  Kings  xxii.  8.  See, 

XVIII.  God's  rem.arkahly  preferviug  the   tribe  of 
which  Chrift  was  10  proceed,  from  being  ruined  through 
ihe  many  and  great  dangers  of  this  period.     The  vili- 
ble  church  of  Chriil  from  Solomon's  reign,  was  main^ 
iy  in  the  tribe  o^  Judah.     The  tribe  of  Benjamin,  that 
was  annexed  to  them,  was  but  a  ^nry  fmali  tribe,  and 
the  tribe  of  Judah  exceeding  large  ;  and  as  Judah  tool; 
Benjamin  under  his  covert  when  he  went  into  Egypt  to 
biing  corn,  fo  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  feemed  to  be  un- 
der the   covert  of  Judah  ever  after :  and  though,  ou 
cccafion  of  Jeroboam's  fettiug  un  the  calves  in  Bethel 
and  Dan,    the  Lcvitcs  reforted  to  Judah  out  of  all  tho 
tribes  of  Ifrael  (2  Chron.  xi.  13.)  yet  they  were  alfu 
fmall,  and  not  reckoned  among  the  tribes :  and  though 
many  of  the  ten  tribes  did  alfo  on  that  Occafion,  for  the 
la'^e   of  the  worfliip  of  God  in  the  temple,  leave  their 
ijiheritances  in   their  feveial  tribes,  and  removed  and 
ic'.tled  in  Jvidab,  and  To  were  incorporated  whli  them^ 


140  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  I 

as  we  have  account  in  the  chapter  juft  quoted,  and  i6th 
verfe  ;  yet  the  tribe  of  Judah  was  fo  much  the  prevail- 
ing part,  that  they  were  called  by  one  name,  they  were 
Called  Judah :  therefore  God  faid  to  Solomon,  i  Kings 
xi.  13.  "  I  will  not  rend  away  all  the  kingdom  ;  but 
"  will  give  one  tribe  to  thy  fon,  for  David  my  fervant's 
*'  fake,  and  for  Jerufalem's  fake,  which  I  have  chofen ;" 
and  fo  ver.  32.  36.  So  when  the  ten  tribes  were  carried 
captive,  it  is  faid,  there  was  none  left  but  the  tribe  of 
Judah  only:  2  Kings  17.  18.  "  Therefore  the  Lord 
*'  was  vevy  wroth  with  Ifrael,  and  removed  them  out 
*'  of  his  fight :  there  was  none  left  but  the  tribe  of  Ju- 
"  dah  only.''  Whence  they  were  all  called  Jtws^ 
which  is  a  word  that  comes  from  Judah. 

This  was  the  tribe  of  which  Chrift  was  to  come,  and 
in  this  chiefly  did  God's  vifible  church  confift,  from 
Solomon's  time  :  and  this  was  the  people  over  whom  the 
kings  that  were  legal  anceilors  of  Chrift,  and  were 
of  the  houfe  of  David,  reigned.  This  people  was  won- 
derfully prefer\^ed  from  deftruftion  during  this  period, 
when  they  often  feemed  to  be  upon  the  brink  of  ruin, 
and  juft  ready  to  be  fwallowed  up.  So  it  was  in  Reho- 
boam's  time,  when  Shifhak  king  of  Egypt  came  againft 
Judah  with  fuch  a  vaft  force ;  yet  then  God  manifeftly 
preferved  them  from  being  deftroyed.  Of  this  we  read 
in  the  beginning  of  the  12th  chapter  of  2  Chron.  So 
it  was  again  in  Abijah's  time,  when  Jeioboam  {^1  the 
battle  in  array  againft  him  with  eight  hundred  thoufand 
chofen  men  ;  a  mighty  army  indeed.  We  read  of  it, 
2  Chron.  xiii.  3.  Then  God  wrought  deliverance  to 
Judah,  out  of  regard  to  the  covenant  of  grace  eftabliftied 
with  David,  as  is  evident  bv  ver.  4.  and  5.  and  the  vic- 
tory they  obtained  was  becaufe  the  Lord  was  on  their 
fide,  as  vou  may  fee,  ver.  12.  So  it  was  again  in  Afa's 
time,  when  Zera,  the  Ethiopian  came  againft  him  with 
a  yet  larger  army  of  a  thoufand  thoufand  and  three 
hundred  chariots,  2  Chron.  xiv.  9.  On  this  occafioii 
Afa  cried  to  the  Lord,  and  trufted  in  him,  being  fenfi- 
ble  that  it  was  nothing  with  him  to  lielp  thofe  that 
had  no  power  ;  ver.  11.  *'  And  Afa  cried  unto  the 
**  Lord  his  God,  and  faid.  Lord,  it  is  nothing  with  thee 
*'  to  help,  whether  with  many,  or  with  thofe  that  have 

no 


Part  V.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     141 

*'  no  power."     And  accordingly  God  gave  tlicm  a  glo- 
rious vi6lory  over  this  mighty  lioft. 

So  again  it  was  in  Jeholhaphat's  time,  when  the  chil- 
dren of  Moab,  and  the  children  of  Ammon,  and  the 
inhabitants  of  Mount  Seir,  combined  together  againft 
Judah  with  a  mighty  army,  a  force  vaftly  fuperior  to 
any  that  Jehofliaphat  could  raife;  and  Jehofhaphat  and 
his  people  were  greatly  afiaid  :  yet  they  fet  themfelves 
to  feek  God  on  this  occafion,  and  trufled  in  him  ;  and 
God  told  them  by  one  of  his  prophets,  that  they  need 
not  fear  them,  nor  Ihould  they  have  any  occafion  to 
fight  in  this  battle,  they  Ihould  only  ftand  Hill  and  fee 
the  falvation  of  the  Lord.  And  according  to  his  di- 
jcftion,  they  only  flood  ftill,  and  fang  praifes  to  God, 
^nd  God  made  their  enemies  do  the  wo'/k  themfelves, 
and  fet  them  to  killing  one  another;  and  the  children 
of  Judah  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  gather  the  fpoil, 
which  was  more  than  they  could  carry  away.  We  have 
the  llory  in  2  Chron.  xx. 

So  it  was  again  in  Ahaz's  time,  Vv'hen  Rezin,  the  king 
of  Syria,  and  Pekah  the  fon  of  Remaliah,  the  king  of 
Ifrael,  confpired  againft  Judah,  and  feemed  to  be  fure  of 
their  purpofc  ;  of  which  Vv^e  have  fpoken  already.  So 
it  was  again  in  Hezekiah's  time,  when  Sennacherib,  that 
great  king  of  AfTyria,  and  head  of  the  greateft  m.onar- 
chy  that  was  then  in  the  world,  came  up  againft  all  the 
fenced  cities  of  Judah,  after  he  had  conquered  moft  of 
the  neighbouring  countries,  and  fent  Rabftiakeh,  ths 
captain  of  his  hoft,  againft  Jerufalem,  who  came,  and  in 
a  very  proud  and  fcornful  manner  infulted  Hezekiah 
and  his  people,  as  being  fure  of  victory ;  and  the  people 
were  trembling  for  fear,  like  lambs  before  a  Hon.  Then 
God  fent  Ifaiah  the  prophet  to  comfort  them,  and  af- 
fure  them  that  they  fnould  not  prevail ;  as  a  token  of 
which  he  gave  them  this  fign,  viz.  that  the  earth,  for 
two  years  fucceftively,  fhould  bring  forth  food  of  itfelf, 
from  the  roots  of  the  old  ftalks,  without  their  plowing 
or  fowing ;  and  then  the  third  year  they  ftiould  fow 
and  reap,  and  plant  vineyards,  and  eat  the  fruit  of 
them,  and  live  on  the  fruits  of  their  labour,  as  they 
were  wont  to  do  before.  See  2  Kings  xix.  29.  This  is 
mentioned  as  a  type  of  what  ispromifed  in  ver.  30.  31. 
**  And  the  remnant  that  is  efcaped  of  thehoufe  of  Ju- 

"  dab. 


£42  AHIStORYoF  fcdod  C,- 

"  dah,  fhall  yet  again  take  root  downward,  and  bear 
**  fruit  upward.  For  out  of  Jerufalem  fhall  go  forth  a 
*'  remnant,  and  they  that  efcape,  out  of  Mount  Zion  : 
"  the  zeal  of  the  Lord  of  holls,  fhall  do  this."     The 
corn's  fpringing  again  after  it  had  been  cutoff  with  the 
fickle,  and  bringing  forth  another  crop  from  the  roots, 
that  feemed  to  be  dead,  and  fo  once  and  again,  repre- 
fents  the  church's  reviving  again,  as  it  were  out  of  its 
own  alhcs,    and  flourilhing   like  a  plant  after  it  had 
feemingly  been  cut  dowij  pafl  recovery.    When  the  e* 
-nemiesof  the  church  had  done  their  utmofl,  and  feeni 
t,o  have  gained  their  point,  and  to  have  overthrown  th^ 
churchy  fo  that   the  being  of  it  is  fcarcely  vifible,    but 
like  a  living  root  hid  under  ground  ;  yet  there  is  a  fe» 
cret  life  in  it  that  will  caufe  it  to  flourilh  again,  and  to" 
take  root  downward,  and  bear  fruit  upward.     This  was 
fulfilled  now  at  this  time  ,:  for  the  king  of  Affyria  had 
already  taken  and  carried  captive   the  ten  tribes ;  and 
Sennacherib  had  alfo  taken  all  the  fenced  cities  of  Ju^ 
dah,  and    ranged  the  country  round  about,  and  Jeru- 
falem  only  remained ;  and  Rabfh.akeh  had  in  his  owrjf 
imagination  already  fwallowed  that  up,  as  he  had  alfo 
in  the  fearful   apprehenfions  of  the  Jews  themfelves. 
But  yet   God  wrought  a  wonderful  deliverance.     He 
lent  an  Angel,  that  in   one  night  fmote  an  hundred 
fourfcore  and  five  thoufand  in  the  enemy's  camp. 

XIX.  In  the  reign  of  Uzziah,  and  the  following 
reigns,  God  was  pleafed  to  raife  up  a  fct  of  eminent 
prophets,  who  ihould  commit  their  prophecies  to  writ- 
ing, and  leave  them  for  the  life  of  his  church  in  all  ages^ 
We  before  obferved,  how  that  God  began  a  conlfanC 
fuccelTion  of  prophets  in  Ifrael  in  Samiiel's  time,  and 
many  of  thefe  prophets  wrote  by  divine  infpiration, 
and  fo  added  to  the  canon  of^fcripture  before  Uzziah's 
time.  But  none  of  ihcm  are  fuppofed  to  have  written 
books  of  prophecies  till  now.  Several  of  them  wrote 
Jiiilories  of  the  wonderful  difpenfations  of  God  towards 
liis  church.  This  we  have  obferved  already  of  Samuel, 
who  is  fuppofed  to  have  written  Judges  and  Ruth,  and 
part  of  the  iiril  of  Samuel,  if  nut  the  book  of  Jolliua, 
And  Nathan  and  Gad  feem  to  have  written  the  reft  of 
the  two  books  of  Samuel :  and  Nathan,  with  Ahijah 
end  Id  do,  '.sTOte  the  luHory  of  SqIo^ihoii^  which  is  prq- 


PanV.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    143 

bably  that  which  we  have  in  the  firfl  book  of  Kings. 
The  hiftory  of  Ifrael  fecms  to  have  been  further  carried 
on  by  I(^do  and  Shemaiah :  2  Chron.  xii.  15.  "  Now 
*'  the  a61s  of  Rhchoboam,  firfl  and  laft,  are  they  not 
•'  written  in  the  hook  of  Shemaiah  the  prophet,  and 
*'  Iddo  the  feer,  concerning  genealogies  ?"  And  after 
that  tlie  hiftory  feems  to  liave  been  further  carried  on 
by  the  prophe*.  Jehu,  the  fon  of  Kanani :  2  Chron,  xx. 
34.  **  Now  the  rclf  of  the  a61s  of  Jehofliaphat,  firft 
*'  and  lafl,  behold  they  are  written  in  the  book  of  Jehu, 
"  the  fon  of  Hanani,  who  is  mentioned  in  the  book 
*'  of  the  kings  of  Ifrac!,"  as  we  find  him  to  be  1  Kings 
xvi.  1.  7.  And  then  it  was  further  continued  by  thepro- 
phet  Ifaiah  :  2  Chron.  xxvi.  22.  "Now  the  reft  of  the 
**  afts  of  Uzziah,  firft  and  laft,  did  Ifaiah  the  prophet 
.*'  the  fon  of  Amos  write."  He  probably  did  it  as  well 
in  the  fecond  book  of  Kings,  as  in  the  book  of  his  pro* 
phecy.  And  the  hiftory  was  carried  on  and  finifhed  by 
other  prophets  after  him. 

Thus  the  prophets,  even  from  Samuel's  time,  had 
from  time  to  time  been  adding  to  the  canon  of  fcrip- 
ture  by  their  hiftorical  writings.  But  now,  in  the  days 
of  Uzziah,  did  God  firft  raife  up  a  fet  of  great  pro- 
phets, not  only  to  v/rite  hiftories,  but  to  write  books  of 
their  prophecies.  The  firft  of  thefe  is  thought  to  be 
Hofea  the  fon  of  Beeri,  and  therefore  his  prophecy,  or 
the  word  of  the  Lord  by  him,  is  called  the  beginning  of 
tht  word  of  the  Lord;  as  Hof.  i.  2.  *' The  beginning  of 
•*  the  word  of  the  Lord  by  Hofea ;"  that  is,  the  begin- 
ning, or  the  firft  part,  of  the  written  word  of  that 
kind,  viz.  that  which  is  written  in  books  of  prophecy. 
He  prophefied  in  the  days  of  Uzziah,  Jotham,  Ahaz, 
and  Hezekiah,  kings  of  Judah,  and  in  the  days  of  Je- 
roboam, the  fon  of  Joafli,  king  of  Ifrael.  There  were 
many  other  witneffes  for  God  raifed  up  about  the  fame 
time  to  commit  their  prophecies  to  writing,  Ifaiah,  and 
Amos,  and  Jonah,  and  Micah,  and  Nahum,  and  pro- 
bably fome  others ;  and  fo  from  that  time  forward  God 
feemed  to  continue  a  fucceftion  of  writing  prophets. 

This  was  a  great  difpenfation  of  providence,  and  a 
great  advance  made  i'l  the  aft'air  of  redemption,  which 
appears,  if  we  confidcr  what  was  faid  before,  tliat  thc 
main  bufinefs  of  the  prophets  was  to  fore(ho\/  Chriil 


144  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Period  L 

and  his  redemption.  They  were  all  forerunners  of  the 
great  prophet.  The  main  end  why  the  fpirit  of  prophe- 
cy was  given  them  was,  that  they  might  give  teitimony 
to  Jefus  Chrill,  the  great  Redeemer,  that  was  to  come ; 
and  therefore  the  teithnony  of  Jefus  and  the  fpirit  of 
prophecy,  are  fpoken  of  as  the  lame  thing :  Rev.  xix. 
10.  "  And  I  fell  at  his  feet  to  worfhip  him  :  and  he  faid 
*'  unto  me,  See  thou  do  it  not :  I  am  thy  fellow-fer- 
"  vant,  and  of  thy  brethren  that  have  the  tefiimony  of 
*'  Jefus :  worfiiip  God :  for  the  teftimony  of  Jefus  is 
**  the  fpirit  of  prophecy."  And  therefore  we  find, 
that  the  great  and  main  thing  that  the  moil  of  the  pro- 
phets in  their  written  prophecies  infill  upon,  is  Chrill 
and  his  redemption,  and  the  glorious  times  of  the  gof- 
pel,  which  fhould  be  in  the  latter  days,  according  to 
their  manner  of  expreffion.  And  though  many  other 
things  were  fpoken  of  in  their  prophecies,  yet  it  feems 
to  be  only  as  introduftory  to  their  prophecy  of  thefe 
great  things.  Whatever  they  prophecy  of,  here  their 
prophecies  commonly  terminate,  as  you  may  fee  by  a 
careful  perufal  of  their  writings. 

Thefe  prophets  were  fet  to  writing  their  prophecies 
by  the  Spirit  of  Chrift  that  was  in  them,  chiefly  for  that 
end,  to  forefhov\r  and  prepare  the  way  for  the  coming 
of  Chrift,  and  the  glory  that  fhould  follow.  And  in 
what  an  exalted  ftrain  do  they  all  Ipeak  of  thofe  things  1 
Many  other  things  they  fpeak  of  in  m.ens  ufual  lan- 
guage. But  when  they  come  upon  this  fubjeft,  what  a 
joyful  heavenly  fublimity  is  there  in  the  language  they 
ufe  about  it !  Som.e  of  them  are  very  particular  and 
full  in  their  prediftions  of  thefe  things,  and  above  aU 
the  prophet  Ifaiah,  who  is  therefore  defervedly  called 
the  evangelic  prophet.  Ke  feems  to  teach  the  glorious 
doftrines  of  the  gofpel  almoft  as  plainly  as  the  apoftlcs 
did,  who  preached  after  Chrill  was  aftually  come. 
The  Apoftle  Paul  therefore  takes  notice,  that  the  pro- 
phet Efaias  is  very  bold,  Rom.  x,  20.  i.  e.  as  the  m.can- 
ing  of  the  word,  as  ufed  in  the  new  teftament,  is  very 
plain,  he  fpeaks  out  very  plainly  and  fully  ;  fo  being 
"  veiy  bold"  is  ufed  2  Cor.  iii.  12.  we  ufe  "great 
*'  plainnefs  of  fpeech,"  or  "  boldiiefs,"  as  it  is  in  the 
margin. 

How  plainly  and  fully  does  the  prophet  Ifaiah  dc.^ 

fcribe 


Fart  V.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      14,5 

fcribe  the  manner  and  circumflances,  the  nature  and 
end,  of  the  fufltrings  and  {'acrificeof  Chrift,  in  the^3d 
chapter  of  his  prophecy.  There  is  fcarce  a  chapter  in 
the  New  Tellament  itfelf  which  is  more  full  on  it !  and 
how  much,  and  in  what  a  glorious  drain,  does  the  fame 
prophet  fpeak  from  time  to  time  of  the  glorious  bene- 
fits of  Chrift,  the  unfpeakable  bledings  which  Ihall 
redound  to  his  church  through  his  redemption  !  Jefus 
Chrift,  the  pcrfon  that  this  prophet  fpoke  fo  much  of, 
once  appeared  to  Ifaiah  in  the  form  of  the  human  na- 
ture, the  nature  that  he  fliould  afterwards  take  upon 
him.  We  have  an  account  of  it  in  the  6th  chapter  of 
his  prophecy  at  the  beginning  :  "  I  faw  alfo  the  Lord 
"  fitting  on  a  throne,  high  and  lifted  up,  and  his  train 
**  filled  the  temple,"  &:c.  This  was  Chrill  that  Ifaiah 
now  faw,  as  we  are  exprefsly  told  in  the  New  Tella- 
ment.    See  John  xii.  39.  40.  41. 

And  if  we  confider  the  abundant  prophecies  of  this 
and  the  other  prophets,  what  a  great  increafe  is  there 
of  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  which  had  been  growing 
from  the  fall  of  man  to  this  day  ?  How  plentiful  are 
the  revelations  and  prophecies  of  Chrift  now,  to  what 
they  were  in  the  firft  period  of  the  Old  Teftament, 
from  Adam  to  Noah  ?  C3r  to  what  they  were  in  the  fe- 
cond,  from  Noah  to  Abraham  ?  Or  to  what  they  were 
before  Mofes,  or  in  the  time  of  Mofes,  Jofhua,  and 
the  Judges  ?  This  difpenfation  that  we  are  now  fpeak- 
ing  of,  was  alfo  a  glorious  advance  of  the  work  of  re- 
demption by  the  great  additions  that  were  made  to  the 
canon  of  fcripture.  Great  part  of  the  old  Teftament 
was  written  now  from  the  days  of  Uzziah  to  the  capti- 
vity into  Babylon.  And  how  excellent  are  thofe  por- 
tions of  it  ?  What  a  precious  treafure  have  thofe  pro- 
phets committed  to  the  church  of  God,  tending  greatly 
to  confirm  the  gofpel  of  Chrift  ?  And  which  has  been 
of  great  comfort  and  benefit  to  God's  church  in  all 
ages  fince,  and  doubtlefs  will  be  to  the  end  of  the 
',vorld.  Q 


PART 


t^6^  A  HISTORY  OF  Fenoa  L- 

PAR    T        VI. 

Fyo?7i  iKe  Bahylonijli  captivity  to  the  comiyig  ofChriJl, 

I  COME  now  to  the  loft  period  oi  the  Old  Teftament, 
viz.  that  which  begins  with  the  BabyleniJJi  captivity ^ 
and  extends  to  the  coming  of  drift,  being  the  greateft- 
part  of  fix  hundred  years,  to  fhow  how  the  work  o£ 
i^edemption  was  carried  on  through  this  period. 

But  before  I  enter  upon  particulars,  I  would  obferve 
in  three  things  wherein  this  period  is  diftinguifhed  from 
the  preceding  periods  of  the  times  of  the  Old  Tefta- 
ment. 

1.  Though  we  have  no  account  of  a  great  part  of 
this  period  in  the  fcriptiire-hiflory,-yet  the  events  of  this 
period  are  more  the  fubjeft  of  fcripture  prophecy,  than 
any  of  the  preceding  periods ►  There  are  two  ways 
•wherein  the  fcriptures  give  account  of  the  events  by 
which  the  work  of  redemption  is  carried  on ;  one  is- 
by  hiilory,  and  another  is  by  prophecy  :  and  in  one  or 
the  other  of  thefe  ways  we  have  contained  in  the  fcrip- 
tures an  account  how  the  work  of  redemption  is  car- 
ried on  from  the  beginning  to  the  end.  Although  the 
fcriptures  do  not  contain  a  proper  hiftory  of  the  whole, 
yet  there  is  contained  the  whole  chain  of  great  events 
by  which  this  affair  hath  been  carried  ©n  from  the  foun- 
dation, foon  after  the  fall  of  man,  to  the  fini-fhing  of  it 
at  the  end  of  the  world,  either  in  hiftory  or  prophecy. 
And  it  is  to  be  obferved,  that,  where  the  fcripture  is- 
wanting  in  one  of  thefe  ways,  it  is  made  up  in  ihe 
other.  Where  fcripture-hiftor}'  fails,  there  prophecy^ 
takes  place  ;  fo  that  the  account  is  ftill  carried  on,  and 
the  chain  is  not  broken,  till  we  come  to  the  very  laft 
link  of  it  in  the  confummation  of  all  things. 

And  accordingly  it  is  obfervable  of  this  period  or 
fpace  of  time  that  we  are  upon,  .that  though  it  is  {cy 
much  lefs  the  fubjeft  of  fcripture -hiftory,  than  moft  of 
the  preceding  periods,  fo  that  there  is  above  four  bun- 
dred  years  of  it  that  the  fcriptures  give  us  no  hiftory  of; 
yet  the  events  of  this  period  arc  more  the  fubjeft  a£ 

fcripture- 


Part  VI.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     147 

fcripture-prophecy,  than  the  events  of  all  the  preceding 
periods  put  together.  Moft  of  thofe  remarkable  pro- 
phecies of  the  book  of  Daiiiel  do  r^fer  to  events  that 
were  accompliflied  iii  this  period  :  fo  moft  of  thofe  pro- 
phecies in  Ifaiah,  and  Jeremiah,  and  Ezekiel,  againft 
Babylon,  and  Tyrus,  and  againil  Egypt,  and  many  other 
aaiions,  were  fulfilled  in  this  period. 

So  that  tlie  xeafon  why  the  fcriptures  give  us  no  hi- 
Hory  of  fo  great  a  part  of  this  period,  is  not  becaufe  the 
events  of  this  period  were  not  fo  important,  or  lei's  wor- 
thy to  be  taken  notice  of,  than  the  events  of  the  forego- 
ing periods;  for  I  fhall  hereafter  fhow  how  great  and 
diftmguiftiedly  remarkable  the  events  of  this  period 
were.  But  there  are  feveral  other  reafons  which  may 
be  given  of  it.  One  is,  that  it  was  the  will  af  God  that 
the ,  fpirit  of  prophecy  fhould  ceafe  in  this  period  (for 
reafons  that  may  be  given  hereafter)  fo  that  there 
were  no  prophets  to  write  the  Kiftory  of  thefe  limes ; 
and  therefore  God  defigning  this,  took  care  that  the 
^reat  events  of  this  period  ihould  not  be  without  men- 
tion in  his  word;  andfo  ordered  it,  that  the  prophecies 
x)f  fcripture  fhould  be  more  full  here,  than  in  the  pre- 
.ceding  periods.  It  is  obfervable,  diat  that  fet  of  wri-. 
ting  prophets  that  God  raifed  up  in  Ifrael,  were  raifed 
up  at  the  latter  end  of  the  foregoing  period,  and  at  the 
beginning  of  this ;  which  it  is  likely  was  partly  for 
that  reafon,  that  the  time  was  now  approaching,  of 
which  the  fpirit  of  propliecy  having  ceafed^  there  was 
to  be  no  fcripture-hiftory,  and  therefore  no  other  fcrip-. 
ture-account  but  what  was  given  in  prophecy. 

And  another  reafon  that  might  be  given  why  there 
was  fo  great  a  part  of  this  period  left  without  an  hifto^ 
rical  account  in  fcripture,  is,  that  God  in  his  providence 
took  care,  that  there  fliould  be  authentic  and  full  ac- 
counts of  the  events  of  this  period,  preferved  in  pro-- 
fane  hiftory.  It  is  ^remarkable,  and  very  worthy  to  be 
taken  notice  of,  that  with  refpeft  to  the  events  of  the 
five  preceding  periods,  of  which  the  fcriptures  give  the 
hiftor)%  profane  hilloiy  gives  us  no  account,  or  at 
leaft  of  but  very  few  of  them.  There  are  many  fabu- 
lous and  uncertain  accoimts  of  things  tliat  liappened  be- 
fore ;  but  the  beginning  of  the  times  of  authentic  pro-- 
iajne  hiltoiy  is  judged  to  be  but  a  little  before  Ncljuchad- 
Q  3  uezzac'a. 


14B  A  HISTORY  07  Peiiod  L 

nezzar's  time,  about  an  hundred  years  before.  The 
learned  men  among  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  ufed  to 
call  the  ages  before  that  thejabulous  age  ;  but  the  times 
after  that  they  called  the  hijioncal  age.  And  from 
about  that  tnne  to  the  coming  of  Chrilt,  \ve  have  un- 
doubted accounts  in  profane  hiflory  of  the  principal 
events  ;  accounts  that  wonderfully  agree  with  the  ma- 
•  ny  prophecies  that  w^e  have  in  fcripture  of  thofe  times. 

Thus  did  the  great  God,  that  difpofes  all  things, 
order  it.  He  took  care  to  give  an  hiftorical  account  of 
things  from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  through  all 
thole  former  ages  which  profane  hiflory  does  not 
leach,  and  ceafed  not  till  he  came  to  thofe  later  ages 
in  which  profane  hiftory  related  things  with  fome  cer- 
tamry:  and  concerning  thofe  times,  he  gives  us  abun- 
dant account  in  prophecy,  that  by  comparing  profane 
hiftory  with  thofe  prophecies,  we  might  fee  the  agree- 
ment, ■ 

2.  This  period  being  the  laft  period  of  the  Old  Te- 
Hament,  and  the  next  to  the  coming  of  Chrift,  feems  to 
have  been  remarkably  diliinguilhed  from  all  others  in 
the  great  revolutions  that  were  among  the  nations  oi 
the  earth,  to  make  way  for  the  kingdom  of  Chriil.  I'he 
time  now  drawing  nigh,  v»/herein  Chrift,  the  great  King 
and  Saviour  of  the  world,  was  to  come,  great  and  migh- 
ty were  the  changes  that  were  brought  to  pafs  in  order 
to  it.  The  way  had  been  preparing  for  the  coming  of 
Chrift  from  the  fall  of  man,  through  ail  the  foregoing 
periods :  bat  noiv  the  time  drawing  nigh,  things  began 
to  ripen  ai:ace  for  Chriil's  coming;  and  therefore  di- 
vine providence  wrought  wonderfully  now.  l^he  grcat- 
ell  revolutions  that  any  hiftory  whatfoever  gives  an  ac- 
count of,  triat  ever  had  been  from  the  flood,  fell  out  in 
tiiis  period.  Alinoif  all  the  then  known  world,  i.  e. 
all  the  nations  that  were  round  about  the  land  of  Ca- 
n:ian,  far  and  near,  that  were  within  the  reach  of  their 
knowledge,  were  overturned  again  and  again.  All 
lands  were  in  their  turn  fubdued,  captivated,  and  as  it 
were  emptied,  and  turned  upfide  down,  and  that  moft 
of  them  repeatedly,  in  this  period  ;  agreeable  to  that 
prophecy,  \{.  xxiv.  1.  "  Behold,  the  Lord  maketh  the 
f*  earth  empty;  he  maketh  it  wafte,  and  turnetli  it  up- 

'■'  f.de 


Pait  VI.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      149 

**  fide  down,  and    fcattercth  abroad    the   inhabitants 
*'  thereof." 

This  emptying,  and  turning  upfide  dov/n,  began  with 
God's  vifible  church,  in  their  captivity  by  the  king  of 
Babylon.  And  then  the  cup  from  them  went  round  to 
all  other  nations,  agreeable  to  what  God  revealed  to  the 
prophet  Jeremiah,  xxv.  15. — 27.  Herefpccial  refpeft 
ieems  to  be  had  to  'he  great  revolutions  that  there  were 
on  the  face  of  the  earth  in  the  times  of  the  Babylonifli 
empire.  But  after  that  there  were  three  general  over- 
turnings  of  the  world  befoie  Chrift  came,  in  the  fuc- 
celhon  of  the  three  great  monarchies  of  the  world 
that  were  after  tlie  Babvlonilh  empire.  The  king  of 
Babylon  is  reprefented  in  fcripture  as  overturning  the 
Avorld  :  but  after  that,  the  BabylonifJi  empire  was  over- 
thrown by  Cyrus,  who  founded  the  Perfian  empire  in 
the  room  of  it ;  which  was  of  much  greater  extent  than 
the  Babylonifh  empire  in  i!s  greateft  glory.  Thus  the 
world  was  overturned  the  fecond  time.  And  then  af- 
ter that,  the  Perfian  empire  was  overthrown  by  Alexan- 
der, and  the  Grecian  empire  was  fet  up  upon  the  ruins 
of  it ;  which  was  ftill  of  much  greater  extent  than  the 
Perfian  empire :  and  thus  there  was  a  general  over- 
turning of  the  vv^orld  a  third  time.  And  then,  after  that, 
the  Grecian  empire  was  overthrown  by  the  Romans, 
and  the  Roman  empire  was  eUablifhed;  which  vaftly 
exceeded  all  the  foregoing  empires  in  power  and  extent 
of  dominion.  And  fo  the  world  was  overturned  the 
fourth  time. 

Thefe  feveral  monarchies,  and  the  great  revolutions 
of  the  world  under  them,  are  abundantly  fpoken  of  in 
the  prophecies  of  Daniel.  They  are  reprefented  in  Ne- 
buchadnezzar's image  of  gold,  filver,  brafs,  and  iron, 
and  Daniel's  interpretation  of  it  in  the  fecond  chapter  of 
Daniel ;  and  then  in  Daniel's  vifion  of  the  four  beafts, 
and  the  angel's  interpretation  of  it  in  the  feventh  chap- 
ter of  Daniel.  And  the  fuccelTion  of  the  Perfian  and 
Grecian  monarchies  is  more  particularly  reprefented  in 
the  8th  chapter  in  Daniel's  vifion  of  the  ram  and  the 
he-goat,  and  again  in  the  11th  chapter  of  Daniel. 

And  befide  thefe  four  general  overturnings  of  the 
world,  the  world  was  kept  in  a  conftant  tumult  between 
whiles :  and  indeed  the  world  was  as  it  were  in  a  con- 
tinual 


(1^0  A  HISTORY   OF  jPeriod  1 

tinua!  convulfion  through  this  whole  period  till  Chrift 
came.  Before  this  period,  the  face  of  the  earth  was 
comparatively  in  quietnefs :  though  there  were  many 
great  wars  among  the  nations,  yet  we  read  of  no  fuch 
mighty  and  univerlal  convulfioiis  and  overturnings  as 
there  were  in  this  period..  The  nations  of  the  world, 
jnoft  of  them,  had  long  remained  on  their  lees  as  it 
xvere,  without  being  emptied  from  veffel  to  veflel,  as  is 
laid  of  Moab,  Jer.  xlviii.  ii.  Now  thefe  great  over- 
turnings  were  becaufe  the  time  of  the  great  Mefliah  drew 
aigh.  That  they  were  to  prepare  the  way  for  C  brill's 
coming,  is  evident  by  fcripture,  particularly  by  Ezek. 
xxi.  27.  "  I  will  overturn,  overturn,  overturn  it,  and 
^  it  thall  be  no  more,  until  he  come  whofe  right  it 
*'  is,  and  I  will  give  it  him/'  The  prophet,  by  re- 
peating the  word  ov€rturn  three  times,  has  refpeft  to 
iliree  overturnings,  as  in  the  Revelation,  viii.  13.  The 
repetidon  of  the  word  woe  three  times,  fignifies  three 
diltinft  woes  ;  as  appears  by  what  follows,  ix.  12.  ♦'  One 
"  woe  is  paft  ;"  and  xL  14.  "  The  fecond  woe  is  paft, 
*'  and  behold  the  third  woe  cometh  quickly," 

It  mult  be  noted,  that  the  prophet  Ezekiel  prophefied 
in  the  time  of  the  Babylonilh  captivity  ;  and  therefore 
there  were  three  great  and  general  overturnings  of  the 
world  to  come  after  this  prophecy,  before  Chrift  came ; 
tiie  firll  by  the  Perfians,  the  fecond  by  the  Grecian^, 
the  third  by  the  Romans;  and  then  after  that  Chrift, 
whofe  right  it  was  to  take  the  diadem,  and  reign,  fhould 
come.  Here  thefe  great  ov^erturnings  are  evidently  fpo- 
ken  of  as  preparator)^  to  the  coming  and  kingdom  of 
Chrift.  But  to  underftand  the  words  aright,  we  muft 
note  the  particular  expreftion,  "  I  will  overturn,  over- 
*'  turn,  overturn  z>,"  i.  e.  the  diadem  and  crown  of 
Ifrael,  or  the  fupreme  temporal  dominion  over  God's 
vifible  people.  This  God  faid  Ihould  be  no  more,  i.  e, 
the  crown  fhould  be  takien  off,  and  the  diadem  remo- 
ved, as  it  is  faid  in  the  foregoing  verfe.  The  fupreme 
power  over  Ifrael  Ihould  be  no  more  in  the  royal  line 
of  David,  to  which  it  properly  belonged,  but  fliould 
be  removed  away,  and  given  to  others,  and  overturned 
from  one  to  another :  firft  the  fupreme  power  over  If- 
rael Ihould  be  in  the  bands  of  the  Perfians ;  and  then 
it  Ihoi^id  b^  overturned  again ;  and  then  it  lliould  be  in 

the 


Part  VL     The  Wo h k  o f  REDEMPTION.     15 1 

the  hands  of  the  Grecians ;  and  tlien  It  fhould  be  over- 
turned  again,  and  come  Into  the  hands  of  the  Romans, 
and  fhould  be  no  more  in  the  line  of  David,  till  that 
very  perfon  (houkl  come,  that  was  the  (on  of  David, 
whofe  proper  right  it  was,  and  then  God  would  give 
it  to  him. 

That  thofe  great  fhaklngs  arwi  revolutions  of  the  na- 
tions of  the  world,  were  all  to  prepare  the  way  for 
Chrift's  coming,  and  fetting  up  his  kingdom  in  the 
world,  is  further  manifefl  by  Haggai,  ii.  6.  7.  *'  For 
•*  thus  faith  the  Lord  of  holls,  Yet  once,  it  is  a  little 
"  while,  and  I  will  fhake  the  heavens,  and  the  earthy 
**  and  the  fea,  and  the  dry  land :  and  I  will  fhake  all 
**  nations,  and  the  defire  of  all  nations  (hall  come,  and 
*'  I  will  fill  this  houfe  with  glory,  faith  the  Lord  of 
*'  hoRs."  And  again,  veri.  21.  22.  and  23.  It  is. 
evident  by  this,  that  thefe  great  revolutions  and  {bak- 
ing of  the  nations,  whereby  the  thrones  of  klngdoma^ 
and  armies  were  overthrown,  and  every  one  came  down 
by  the  fword  of  his  brother,  were  to  prepare  the  way 
for  the  comi-ng  of  him  who  is  the  defire  of  all  na- 
tions. 

The  great  changes  and  troubles  that  have  fometimes 
been  in  the  vifible   church  of  Chrift,  am  in  Rev.  xii. 
2.  compared  to  the  church's  being  in  travail"  to  bring 
forth  Chrift :    fo  thefe  great  troubles  and  mighty  re- 
volutions that  were  in  the   world   before  Chrift  was 
bom,  were,  as  it  were,,  the  worlds  being  in  travail  to 
bring  forth  the  Son  of  God.     The  apoftle,  in  the  8th 
of  Romans,  reprefents  the  whole  creation  as  groaning; 
and  travailing  in  pain  together  until  now,  to  bring  fortU 
the  liberty  and  manifeftation  of  the  children  of  God. 
So  the  world  as  it  were  travailed  in  pain,  and  was  ia 
continual  convulfions,  for  feveral  hundred  years  toge- 
ther, to  bring  forth  the  fitft  born   child,  and  the  only- 
begotten  Son  of  God.     And  thofe  mighty  revolutions 
were  as  fo  many  pangs  and  throes  in  order  to  it.    The 
world  being  fo  long  a  time  kept  in  a  ftate  of  war  anct 
bloodlhed,  prepared  the  way  for  the  coming   of  the 
Prince  of  peace,  as  it  ihowed  the  great  need  the  world 
ftood  in  of  fuch  a  prince  to  deli\  er  the  world  from  its 
miferies. 

It  pleafed  God  to  order  it  in  his  providence,  that 

earthlv 


152  A    HISTORY    of  Penod  I. 

-earthly  power  and  dominion  fhoiild  be  raifed  to  its 
greatelUieight,  and  appear  in  its  utmoft  glory,  in  thofe 
four  great  monarchies  that  fucceeded  one  another,  and 
that  every  onefhoidd  be  greater  and  more  glorious  than 
the  preceding,  before  he  let  up  the  kingdom  of  his  Son. 
By  this  it  appeared  how  much  more  glorious  his  fpiri- 
tiial  kingdom  was  than  the  moll  glorious  temporal 
kingdom.  The  flrength  and  g'ory  of  Satan's  king- 
dom in  thefe  four  mighty  monarchies,  appeared  in  its 
greaieft  height:  for  thofe  monarchies  were  the  mo- 
narchies of  the  heathen  world,  and  fo  the  llrenoth  of 
them  was  the  ftrength  of  Satan's  kingdom.  God  fuf- 
fered  Satan's  kingdom  to  rife  to  fo  great  a  height  of 
power  and  magnificence  before  his  fon  came  to  over- 
throw it,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  more  glorious  tri- 
umph of  his  Son.  Goliath  muft  have  on  all  his  fplen- 
did  armour  when  the  llripling  David  comes  againft  liim 
with  a  fling  and  a  ftone,  for  the  gi-eater  glory  of  Da« 
vid's  viftory.  God  fulfered  one  of  thofe  great  mo- 
narchies to  fubdue  another,  and  ereft  itfelf  on  the  o- 
ther's  ruins,  appearing  flill  in  greater  ftrength,  and  the 
laft  to  be  the  flrongeil:  and  mightieil;  of  all ;  that  lo 
Chrift,  in  overthrowing  that,  might  as  it  were,  over- 
throw them  all  at  once ;  as  the  ftone  cut  out  of  the 
mountain  without  hands,  is  reprefented  as  deftroying 
the  whole  image,  the  gold,  the  filver,  the  brafs,  the 
iron,  and  the  clay ;  fo  that  all  became  as  the  chaff  of 
the  fumraer  threlhin{T-floor. 

Thefe  mighty  empires  were  fufFered  thus  to  overthrow 
the  world,  and  deftroy  one  another :  and  though  their 
power  was  fo  great,  yet  they  could  not  uphold  them- 
felves,  but  fell  one  after  another,  and  came  to  nothing, 
even  the  laft  of  them,  that  was  the  ftrongeft,  and  had 
fwallowed  up  the  earth.  It  pleafed  God  thus  to  fliow 
in  them  the  inftability  and  vanity  of  all  earthly  power 
and  greatnefs ;  which  ferved  as  a  foil  to  fet  forth  the 
glory  of  the  kingdom  of  his  Son,  which  never  Ihall  be 
deftroyed,  as  appears  by  Dan.  ii.  44.  "  In  the  days  of 
**  thefe  kings  ihall  the  God  of  heaven  fet  up  a  king- 
*'  dom  which  Ihall  never  be  deftroyed  ;  and  the  king- 
*•  dom  fhall  not  be  left  to  other  people,  but  it  fliali 
*'  break  in  pieces  and  confume  all  thefe  kingdom.s,  and 
*•  it  fhall  ftand  forever."  So  greatly  does  this  king- 
dom 


Part  VI.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    153 

dom  differ  from  all  thofe  kingdoms :  they  vanifh  away 
and  are  left  to  other  people  ;  but  this  ihall  not  be  left 
to  other  people,  but  Ihall  Hand  for  ever.  God  fuHered 
the  devil  to  do  his  utmoll,  and  to  ellablifti  his  intcreft, 
by  fetting  up  the  greateft,  ftrongeli,  and  moft  glorious 
kingdoms  in  the  world  that  he  could,  before  the  defpi- 
fed  Jefus  overthrew  him  and  his  empire.  Chrill  came 
into  the  world  to  bring  down  the  high  things  of  Satan's 
kingdom,  that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  might  be  on  every 
one  that  is  proud  and  lofty,  and  ever)-  high  tower,  and 
every  lofty  mountain  ;  as  the  prophet  Ifaiah  fays,  chap- 
ii.  12.  8cc.  And  therefore  thefe  things  were  fuffered 
to  rife  very  high,  that  Chrill  might  appear  fo  much 
the  more  glorious  in  being  above  them. 

Thus  wonderfully  did  the  great  and  wife  governor  of 
tlie  world  prepare  the  way  for  the  erefting  of  the  glori- 
ous kingdom  of  his  beloved  ion  Jefus. 

3.  Another  thing  for  which  this  laft  period  orfpace 
of  time  before  Chrift  was  particularly  remarkable,  was 
the  wonderful  prefervation  of  the  church  through  all 
thofe  overturnings.  The  preferv^atiori  of  the  church 
was  on  fome  accounts  more  remarkable  through  thi,$ 
period,  than  through  any  of  the  foregoing.  It  was 
very  wonderful  that  the  church,  which  in  this  period 
was  fo  weak,  and  in  fo  low  a  ftate,  and  moilly  fubjeft  to 
the  dominion  of  Heathen  monarchies,  fhould  be  pre- 
ferved  for  five  or  fix  hundred  years  together,  while  the 
world  was  fo  often  overturned,  and  the  earth  was  rent 
in  pieces,  and  made  fo  often  empty  and  wafte,  and  the 
inhabitants  of  it  came  down  fo  often  every  one  by  the 
fword  of  his  brother.  I  fay  it  was  wonderful  that  the 
church  in  its  weak  and  low  ftate,  being  but  a  little 
handful  of  men,  fiiould  be  preferved  in  all  thefe  great 
convulfions  ;  efpecially  confidcring  that  the  land  of  Ju- 
dea,  the  chief  place  of  the  church's  refidence,  lay  in 
the  midft  of  them,  as  it  were  in  the  middle  between  the 
contending  parties,  and  was  very  much  the  feat  of  war 
amongft  them,  and  was  often  over-run  and  fubdued, 
and  fometimes  in  the  hands  of  one  people,  and  fome- 
times  another,  and  very  much  the  objeft  of  the  envy 
and  hatred  of  all  Heathen  nations,  and  often  almcft 
ruined  by  them,  often  great  multitudes  of  its  inhabi- 
tants being  flain,  and  the  land  in  a  great  meafure  depo-- 
R  pulated; 


iS4  A  H  I  g  T  O  R  r  oy  P<enod  L 

piilated  ;  and  thofe  who  had  them  in  their  powder,  often 
intended  the  utter  deftmftion  of  the  vvhole  nation.  Yefe 
they  were  upheld ;  they  weje  preferved  in  their  capti- 
vity in  Babylon,  and  were  upheld  again  under  all  the 
dangers  they  paffed  through  under  the  kings  of  Perfia ; 
and  the  much  greater  dangers  they  were  Hable  to  un- 
der the  empire  of  the  Greeks,  and  afterwards  when  the 
t\'orld  was  trodden  down  by  the  Romans. 

And  their  prefervation  through  this  period  was  alfo 
diftinguifhedly  remarkable,  in  that  we  never  read  of  the 
church's  fufFering  perfecution  in  any  former  period  in- 
any  meafure  to  fuch  a  degree  as  they  did  in  this,  under 
Antiochus  Epiphanes,  of  which  more  aftei"wards.  This 
wonderful  prefervation  of  the  church  through  all  thefe 
overturnings  of  the  world,  gives  light  and  confirmation 
to  what  we  read  in  the  beginning  of  the  46th  Pialm  : 
"  God  is  our  refuge  and  ftrength,  a  very  prefent  help 
**  in  trouble.  Therefore  will  not  we  fear,  though  the 
*'  earth  be  removed,  and  though  the  mountains  be  car- 
"  ried  into  the  m.idft  of  the  fea ;  though  the  waters 
*'  thereof  roar,-  and  be  troubled ;  though  the  moun- 
"  tains  fiiake  with  the  fweliing  thereof." 

Thus  I  have  taken  notice  of  fome  general  thingf 
wherein  this  laft  period  of  the  Old  Teftament  times  was 
diftinguiflied.  I  come  now  to  confider  how  the  work 
of  redemption  was  carried  on  in  particulars. — And, 

I.  The  firft  thing  that  here  oflFers  is  the  captivity  of 
the  Jews  into  Babylon.  This-  was  a  great  difpenfation 
of  providence,  and  fuch  as  never  was  before.  The 
children  of  Ifrael  in  the  time  of  the  judges,  had  often 
been  brought  under  their  enemies;  and  many  particu- 
lar perfons  were  carried  captive  at  other  times.  But 
never  had  there  been  any  fuch  thing  as  deRro)^ing  the 
whole  land,  the  fan61uary^  and  the  city  of  Jerufalem, 
and  all  the  cities  and  villages  of  the  land,  and  carr/ing 
the  whole  body  of  the  people  oiit  of  their  own  land  in- 
to a  country  many  hundred  miles  diilant  and  leaving 
the  land  of  Canaan  empty  of  God's  vifible  people.  The 
ark  had  once  forfaken  the  tabernacle  of  Shitoh,  and 
was  carried  captive  into  the  land  of  the  PhiHftines:  but 
never  had  there  been  any  fuch  thing  as  the  burning  the 
-{an6luary,  and  utterly  dcftroying  the  ark,  and  carrying 

away 


Fart  VI.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     155 

^way  all  the  facred  vefTels  and  utenfils,  and  breaking 
up  all  their  Hated  worlhip  in  the  land,  and  the  land's 
Jying  waft.e  an4  empty  for  fo  many  years  together. — 
How  lively  are  thofe  things  fet  forth  in  the  Lamcntar 
tions  of  Jeremiah  ! 

The  work  of  redemption  was  promoted  by  tjbis  re- 
markable difpenfation  in  ihefe  following  ways  : 

J.  It  finally  cured  that  nation  of  their  itch  after 
idolatry.  The  prophet  Ifaiali,  fpeaking  of  the  fetting 
up  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrifl,  chapter  ii.  18.  fpeaks 
of  the  abolilhing  idolatry  as  one  thing  that  fhould  be; 
done  to  this  Ciid  :  *'  And  the  idols  he  fhall  utterly 
*'  abolifn."  When  the  time  v/as  drawing  near,  that 
Gqd  would  abolilh  Heathen  idolatry,  through  the 
greater  part  of  the  known  world,  as  he  did  by  the 
preaching  of  the  g^)fpel  after  Chrift  came,  it  pleafed 
hini  firll:  to  abolilh  Heathenifra  among  his  own  people ; 
^nd  he  did  it  now  by  their  captivity  imp  Babylon  ;  -4 
prefage  of  that  abolifhing  of  idols,  that  God  was  about 
to  bruig  to  pafs  by  Chrillthrough  fo  great  a  part  of  the. 
Heatlien  world. 

This  nation  that  was  addrcled  to,  idolatry  before  for 
fo  many  ages,  and  that  nothing  would  cure  them  of, 
not  all  the  reproofs,  and  warnings,  and  correftions, 
that  they  had,  and  all  the  judgmenis  God  inflicted  on. 
them  for  it ;  yet  now  were  finally  cured  :  fo  that  how- 
ever fome  might  fall  into  this  fin,  aftenvards,  as  they  did 
about  the  time  of  Antiochus's  perfecution,  yet  the 
nation,  as  a  nation,  nev^er  fhewed  any  hankering  after 
this  fin  any  more.  This  was  a  remarkable  and  wonder- 
ful change  in  that  people,  and  what  direftly  promoted^ 
the  work  of  redemption,  as  it  was  a  great  advancement 
of  the  intereft  of  religion. 

2.  It  was  one  thii^g  that  prepared  the  wgy  for  Chrift's^ 
coming,  and  fetting  up  the  glorious  difpenfarion  of  the 
gofpel,  as  it  took  away  many  of  thofe  ihings  whereia 
confifted  the  glor)'  of  the  Jewjlh  difpenfation.  In. or- 
der to  introduce  the  glorious  difpeniation  Q!t  the  gof-, 
pel,  the  external  glory  of  the  Jewilh  church  mull  be 
diminiihed,  as  we  oblerved  before.  I'his  the  Babylo- 
niTn  captivity  did  many  ways ;  it  brought  the  people 
very  low. 

Tirfl,  it  removed  tlje  temporal  diadem,  of  the  houfs 
}l  2  ^  q£   ■ 


156  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  I. 

t)f  David  away  from  them,  i.  e.  the  fupreme  and  inde- 
pendent gov'ernment  of  themfelves.  It  took  away  the 
crown  and  diadem  from  the  nation.  The  time  now  ap- 
proaching when  Chrift,  the  great  and  everlailing  king 
of  his  church,  was  to  reign,  it  was  time  for  the  typical 
kings  to  withdraw.  As  God  faid  by  Ezekiel,  ch.  xxi. 
26.  "  He  removed  the  crown  and  diadem,  that  it  mighl; 
*'  be  no  more,  till  he  Ihould  come  whofe  right  it  was." 
The  Jews  hencefor^vard  were  ahvays  dependant  on  the 
governing  power  of  other  nations,  until  Chrifi  came, 
for  near  fix  hundred  years,  excepting  about  ninety 
years,  during  which  fpace  they  maintained  a  fort  of  in- 
dependence, b)^  continual  wars  under  the  dominion  of 
the  Maccabees  and  their  pofterity.' 

Again,  by  the  captivity,  the  glory  and  magnificence 
of  the  temple  was  taken  away,  and  the  temple  that  was 
built  afterwards,  was  nothing  in  comparifon  with  it. 
Thus  it  was  meet,  that  when  the  time  drew  nigh  that 
the  glorious  antet)'pe  of  the  tem.ple  fhould  appear,  that 
the  typical  temple  (hould  have  its  glory  withdrawn. 

Again,  another  thing  that  they  loft  by  the  captivity, 
was  the  two  tables  of  the  teftimony  delivered  to  Mofes, 
written  with  the  finger  of  God ;  the  two  tables  on 
"vvhich  God  with  his  own  finger  wrote  the  ten  com- 
mandments on  Mount  Sinai.  Thefe  feem  to  have  been 
preferved  in  the  ark  till  the  captivity.  Thefe  were  in 
the  ark  when  Solomon  placed  the  ark  in  the  temple, 
,  1  Kings  viii.  9.  There  was  nothing  in  the  arkfave  the 
two  tables  of  ftone,  which  Mofes  put  there  at  Horeb. 
And  we  have  no  reafon  to  fuppofe  any  other,  but  that 
they  remained  there  as  long  as  the  temple  flood.  But 
the  Jews  fpeak  of  thefe  as  finally  loft  at  that  time; 
though  the  fame  commandments  were  preferved  in  the 
book  of  the  h\v.  Thefe  tables  alfo  were  withdrawn  on 
the  approach  of  the  an tetype. 

Again,  another  thing  that  was  loft  that  the  Jews 
hsd  before,  was  the  Urim  and  Thummim.  This  is 
evident  by  Ezra  ii.  63.  "And  the  Tirfliatha  faid  unto 
*'  them,  that  they  fhould  not  eat  of  the  moft  holy 
*'  things,  till  there  fhould  ftand  up  aprieft  with  Urim 
*'  and  Thummim."  And  we  have  no  account  that  this 
was  ever  ref! orcd ;  but  the  ancient  writings  of  the  Jews 
iay  the  co'itrary,  Wlia*  this  Urim  and  Thummim -was/ 


Part  VI.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     157 

I  fiiall  not  now  enquire;  but  only  obferve,  that  it  was 
fomcthing  by  which  the  high  prieft  inquired  of  God, 
and  received  immediate  anfwers  from  him,  or  by  which 
God  gave  forth  immediate  oracles  on  particular  occa- 
fions.  This  was  now  withdrawn,  the  time  approach- 
ing when  Chrift,  the  antetype  of  the  Urim  and  Thum- 
mim,  the  groat  word  and  oracle  of  God,  was  to  come. 

Another  thing  that  the  ancient  Jews  fay  was  wanting 
in  the  fecond  temple,  was  the  Shechinah,  or  cloud  of 
glory  over  the  mercy-feat.  This  was  promifed  to  be  in 
the  tabernacle  :  Levit.  xvi.  2.  "  For  I  will  appear  in  the 
"  cloud  upon  the  mercy-feat."  And  we  read  elfewhere 
of  the  cloud  of  glory  defcending  into  the  tabernacle, 
Exod.  xl.  35.  and  fo  we  do  likewife  with  refpeft  to 
Solomon's  temple.  But  we  have  no  account  that  this 
cloud  of  glory  was  in  the  fecond  temple.  And  the  an- 
cient accounts  of  the  Jews  fay,  that  there  was  no  fuch 
thing  in  the  fecond  temple.  This  was  needlefs  in  the 
fecond  temple,  confidering  that  God  had  promifed  that 
he  would  fill  this  temple  with  glory  another  way,  viz. 
by  Chrift's  coming  into  it;  which  was  afterwards  ful- 
filled. See  Haggai  ii.  7.  "  I  will  fnake  all  nations,  and 
"  the  defire  of  all  nations  (hall  come,  and  I  will  fill  this 
*'  houfe  with  glor)',  faith  the  Lord  of  hofts." 

Another  thing,  that  the  Jews,  in  their  ancient  writ- 
ings mention  as  being  now  withdrawn,  was  the  fire 
from  heaven  on  the  altar.  When  Mofes  built  the  ta- 
bernacle and  altar  in  the  wildernefs,  and  the  firft  facri- 
fices  were  offered  on  it,  fire  came  down  from  heaven, 
and  confumed  the  burnt-offering,  as  in  Levit.  ix.  24. 
and  fo  again,  when  Solomon  built  the  temple,  and  of- 
fered the  firft  facrifices,  as  you  may  fee  in  2  Chron. 
vii.  1.-  And  this  fire  was  never  to  go  out,  but  with  tlie 
greatefl  care  to  be  kept  alive,  as  God  commanded,  Levit. 
vi.  13.  "  The  fire  fliail  ever  be  burning  upon  the  altar : 
**  it  ihal!  never  go  out."  And  there  is  no  reafon  to 
fuppofe  the  fire  in  Solomon's  time  ever  went  out  till 
the  temple  was  deftroyed  by  the  Babylonian's.  But  then 
it  was  extinguiflied,  and  never  was  reftored.  We  have 
no  account  of  its  being  given  on  the  building  of  the  fe- 
cond temple,  as  we  have  at  the  building  of  the  taber- 
nacle and  firft  tem.ple.  But  the  Jews,  after  their  re- 
turn, were  forced  to  makp  u[e  of  their  common  fire  ia- 

fte-id 


E^S  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  PeaodI, 

ilead  of  it,  according  to  the  ancient  tradition  of  the 
Jews,  Thus  the  hghts  of  the  Old  Teftament  go  out  oa 
tlie  approach. of  the  glorious  Sun  of  righteoufnefs. 

3.  The  captivity  into  Babylon  was  the  o£cafion  of  an 
other  thing  which  did  afterwards  much  promote  the 
fetting  up  of  Chrill's  kingdom  in  the  world,  and  that 
was  the  difperiion  of  the  Jews  through  the  greater  part 
of  the  knov/n  world,  before  the  coming  of  Chrift. 
J^or  the  whole  nation  being  carried  away  far  out  of 
their  own  land,  and  continuing  in  a  ftate  of  captivity 
^for  fo  long  a  time,  they  got  them  poITeflions,  and  built 
them  houies,  and  fettled  themfelves  in  the  land  of  their 
.captivity,  agreeable  to  the  di^reftion  that  Jeremiah  gav? 
.them,  in  the  letter  he  wrote  to  them  in  the  29th  chap- 
ter pi  Jeremiah.  And  therefore,  when  Cyrus  gave 
jthem  liberty  to  return  to  the  land  where  they  had  for- 
pieply  dwelt,  many  of  them  never  returned ;  they  were 
;:iot  willing  to  leave  their  fettlements  and  poffefTion^ 
there,  to  go  into  a  defolate  countr)%  many  hundred  miles 
diftant,  which  none  but  the  old  men  among  tl^em  had 
€ver  feen;  and  therefore  they  were  hut  lew,  bui:a  fmall 
number,  that  returned,  as  we  fee  in  th^  accounts  we 
'have  in  the  books  of  Ezra  and  Nehemiah.  Great  num- 
bers tarried  behind,  though  they  ftill  retained  the  fame 
religion  widi  thofe  that  returned,  fo  far  as  it  could  be 
practifed  in  a  foreign  land.  Thofe  m.efiengers  that  we 
read  of  in  the  7th  chapter  of  Zechariah,  that  came  tp 
enquire  of  theprieilaud  prophets  in  Jerufalem,  Shere- 
zer  and  Regem-melech,  are  fuppofed  to  be  meflengers 
fent  from  the  Jews  that  remained  flill  in  Babylon. 

Thofe  Jews  that  remained  ftill  in  that  couiltry  were 
fpon,  by  the  great  changes  that  happened  in  the  world, 
difperfed  thence  into  all  the  adjacent  cpimtries.  And 
hence  we  find,  that  in  Efther's  time,  which  was  after 
the  return,  from  the  captivity,  the  Jews  were  a  people 
that  were  difperfed  throughout  all  parts  of  the  vaft  Per- 
fian  empiie,  that  extended  from  India  to  Ethiopia; 
as  you  may  fee,  Eilh.  iii.  8.  "  And  Haman  faid  unto 
*'  King  Ahafuerus,  There  is  a  cer-ain  people  fcatuered 
*'  abroad,  and  difperfed  among  the  people  in  all  the 
f'  provinces  of  thy  kingdom,"  &c.  And  fo  they  con- 
tinued difperfed.  till  Chriii  came,  and  till  the  apollles 
V/mi  forth  to  preach  the  gofpel,  Btit  yet  thefe  difperf- 
ed 


Part  VI.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     159 

cd  Jews  retained  their  religion  in  this  difpcrfion.  Their 
captivity,  as  I  faid  before,  thoroughly  cured  them  of 
their  idolatry ;  and  it  was  their  manner,  for  as  many 
of  them  as  could  from  time  to  time,  to  go  up  to  the 
land  of  Judea  to  Jerufalem  at  their  great  feafts.  Hence 
we  read  in  the  2d  chapter  of  A6^s,  that  at  the  time  of 
the  great  fcaft  of  Pentecoft,  there  were  Jews  abiding  at 
Jerufalem  out  of  every  nation  under  heaven.  Thefc 
were  Jews  come  up  from  all  countries  where  they  were 
difperfed,  to  worihip  at  that  feaft.  And  hence  we  find, 
in  the  hiftory  of  the  Afts  of  the  Apoilles,  that  where- 
ever  the  apoflles  went  preaching  through  the  world, 
they  found  Jews.  They  came  to  fuch  a  city,  and  to 
fuch  a  city,  and  went  into  the  fynagogue  of  the  Jews. 
Antiochus  the  great,  about  two  hundred  years  be- 
fore Chrift,  on  a  certain  occafion,  tranfplanted  two 
thoufand  families  of  Jews  from  the  country  about  Ba- 
bylon into  Afia  the  lefs  ;  and  fo  they  and  their  pofle- 
rity,  many  of  them,  fettled  in  Pontus,  Galatia,  Phry- 
gia,  Pamphylia,  and  in  Ephefus ;  and  from  thence  fet- 
tled in  Athens,  and  Corinth,  and  Pvome.  Whence 
came  thofe  fynagogues  in  thofe  places  that  the  Apoftle 
Paul  preached  in. 

Now,  this  difperfion  of  the  Jews  through  the  world 
before  Chrill  came,  did  many  ways  prepare  the  way  for 
his  coming,  and  fetting  up  his  kingdom  in  the  M'orld, 

One  was,  that  this  was  a  means  of  raifing  a  general 
expeftation  of  the  Meffiah  through  the  world  about  the 
time  that  he  aftually  came.  For  the  Jews,  where-ever 
they  were  difperfed,  carried  the  holy  fcriptures  with  them, 
and  fo  the  prophecies  of  the  Meffiah;  and  being  con- 
verfant  with  the  nations  among  whom  they  lived,  they, 
by  that  means,  became  acquainted  with  thcfe  prophe- 
cies, and  with  the  expe6iations  of  the  Jews  of  their 
glorious  Meffiah ;  and  by  this  means,  the  birth  of  fuch 
a  glorious  perfon  in  Judea  about  that  time  began  to  be 
the  general  expeftation  of  the  nations  of  the  world,  as 
appears  by  the  writings  of  the  learned  men  of  the  Hea- 
then that  lived  about  that  time,  which  are  ftill  extant ; 
particularly  Virgil,  the  famous  poet  that  lived  in  Italy  a 
little  before  Chrift  was  born,  has  a  poem  about  the  ex- 
-peftation  of  a  great  prince  that  was  to  be  born,  and  the 

happy 


i6o  A   HISTORY    OF  Period  L 

happy  times  of  righteoufnefs  and  peace  that  he  was  to 
introduce  ;  fome  of  it  veiy  much  in  the  language  of 
the  prophet  Ifaiah. 

Another  way  that  this  difperfed  ftate  of  the  Jews 
prepared  the  way  for  Chrifl  was,  that  it  fhowed   the 
necefTity  of  abohihing  the  Jewifli  di{]3enfation,  and  in- 
troducing a  new  difpenfation  of  the  covenant  of  grace. 
It  Hiowed  the  neceflity  of  abohihing  the  ceremonial  law 
and  the  old    Jewifh  worfhip  :  for,  by   this  means,   the 
obfervance  of  that  ceremonial  law  became  impracticable 
even  by  the  Jews  themfelves  ;  for  the  ceremonial  law 
was  adapted  to  the  ftatc  of  a  people  dwelling  together 
in   the  fame  land,    where  was  the  city   that  God  had 
chofen  ;  where  was  the  temple,  the  only  place  where 
tliey  might  offer  facrifices  ;  and  where  it  was  lawful  for 
dieir  Priefts  and  Levites  to  officiate,  where  they  were 
to  bring  their  firft  fruits,  and  where  were  their  cities  of 
r^fage,  and  the  like.     But  the  Jews,  by  this  difperfion, 
hved,  many  of  them,  in  other  lands,  more  than  a  thou- 
fand  miles  diilant,  when  Chrift  came ;  which  made  the 
obfervation  of  their  laM^s  of  facrifices,  and  the  like,  im- 
praclicable.     And  though, their  forefathers  might  be  to 
blame  in  not  going  up  to  the  land  of  Judea  when  they 
were  permitted  by  Cyrus,  yet  the  cafe  was  now,  as  to 
many  of  them  at  leaft,  become   impraclicable  ;  which 
Tliowed  the  neceffity  of  introducing  a  new  difpenfation, 
that  fhould  be  fitted,  not  only  to  one  particular   land, 
but  to  the  general  circumflances  and  ufe  of  all  nations 
of  the  world. 

Again,  another  way  that  this  difperfion  of  the  Jews 
through  the  world  prepared  the  way  for  the  fetting  up 
of  the  kingdom  of  Chrifl  in  the  world,  was,  that  it 
contributed  to  the  making  the  fafts  concerning  Jefus 
Chrifl  publicly  known  through  the  world.  For,  as  I 
cbferved  before,  the  Jews  that  lived  in  other  countries, 
ufcd  frequently  to  go  up  to  Jerufalem,  at  their  three 
.great  feafls,  which  were  from  year  to  year  ;  and  fo,  by 
this  means,  they  could  not  but  become  acquainted  with 
t\is  news  of  the  wonderful  things  that  Chrift  did  in  that 
land.  We  find  that  they  were  prefent  at,  and  took 
creat  notice  of,  that  great  miracle  of  raifmg  Lazarus, 
which  excited  the  curiofity  of  thofe  foreign  Jews  that 
catnc  up  to  the  feafl  of  the  Paffover  to  fee  Jehis ;    a5 

you 


Part  VI.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     16 1 

you  may  fee  in  John  xii.  19.  20.  21.  Thefe  Greeks 
were  foreign  Jews  and  profelytes,  as  is  evident  by  their 
coming  to  worfhip  at  the  feaft  of  the  pafFover.  The 
Jews  that  hved  abroad  among  the  Greeks,  and  fpoke 
their  language,  were  called  Greeks,  or  Ilellenifls:  fo  they 
are  called  Grecians,  A61s  vi.  1.  Thefe  Grecians  here 
fpoken  of  were  not  Gentile  Chriflians ;  for  this  was 
before  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles. 

By  the  fame  means,  the  Jews  that  went  up  from 
other  countries  became  acquainted  with  Chrifl's  cruci- 
fixion. Thus  the  difciples,  going  to  Emmaus,  fay  to 
Chrift,  when  they  did  not  know  him,  Luke  xxiv.  1 8. 
"  Art  thou  only  a  ftranger  in  Jerufalem,  and  haft  not 
*'  known  the  things  which  have  come  to  pafs  there  in 
*'  thefe  days?"  plainly  intimating,  that  the  things  con- 
cerning Jefus  were  fo  publicly  known  to  all  men,  that 
it  was  wonderful  to  find  any  man  unacquainted  with 
them.  And  fo  afterwards  they  became  acquainted  with 
the  news  of  his  refurre&ion ;  and  when  they  went 
home  again  into  their  own  countries,  they  carried  the 
news  with  them,  and  fo  made  thefe  fa61s  public  through 
the  world,  as  they  had  made  the  prophecies  of  them 
pubhc  before. 

After  this,  thofe  foreign  Jews  that  came  to  Jeru- 
falem, took  great  notice  of  the  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit 
at  Pentecoft,  and  the  wonderful  effefts  of  it ;  and  ma- 
ny of  them  were  converted  by  it,  viz.  Parthians,  Medes, 
Elamites,  and  the  dwellers  in  Mefapotamia,  and  in 
Egypt,  and  the  parts  of  Lybia  about  Cyrene,  and  the 
Grangers  of  Rome,  Jews  and  profelytes,  Cretes  and 
Arabians.  And  fo  they  did  not  only  carry  back  the  news 
of  the  fafts  of  Chriftianity,  but  Chriftianity  itfelf,  into 
their  own  countries  with  them ;  which  contributed  much 
to  the  fpreading  of  it  through  the  world. 

Again,  another  way  that  the  difperfion  of  the  Jews 
contributed  to  the  fetting  up  of  the  gofpel-kingdom  ia 
the  world  was,  that  it  opened  a  door  for  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  apoflles  in  all  places  where  they  came  to 
preach  the  gofpel.  For  almoft  in  all  places  where  they 
came  to  preach  the  gofpel,  they  found  Jews,  and  fyna» 
gogues  of  the  Jews,  where  the  holy  fcriptures  were 
wont  to  be  read,  and  the  true  God  worfliipped  ;  which 
was  a  great  advantage  to  the  apgflks  in  theix  fpreading 
S  the 


362  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  I, 

the  gofpel  through  the  world.  For  their  way  was,  in- 
to whatever  city  they  came,  firfl  to  go  into  the  fyna- 
gogue  of  the  Jews  (they  being  people  of  the  fame  na- 
tion) and  there  to  preach  the  gofpel  unto  them.  And 
hereby  their  coming,  and  their  new  doftrine,  was  ta- 
ken notice  of  by  their  Gentile  neighbours,  whofe  cu- 
rio fuy  excired  them  to  hear  what  they  had  to  fay  ; 
which  became  a  fair  occafion  to  the  apollles  to  preach 
the  gofpel  to  them.  It  appears  that  it  was  thus,  by  the 
account  vvC  have  of  things  in  the  A61:s  of  the  apoftles. 
And  thefe  Gentiles  having  been  before,  many  of  them 
prepared  in  fome  meafure,  by  the  knowledge  they  had 
of  the  Jews  religion,  and  of  their  worfliip  of  one  God, 
and  of  their  prophecies,  and  expeftation  of  the  Mefhah; 
v/hich  knowledge  they  derived  from  the  Jews,  ^vho  had 
long  been  their  neighbours ;  this  opened  the  door  for 
the  gofpel  to  have  accefs  to  them.  And  the  work  of 
the  apoftles  with  them  was  daubtlefs  much  eafier  than 
if  they  never  had  heaid  any  thing  before  of  any  ex- 
peftation  of  fuch  a  perfon  as  the  apoftles  preached,  or 
any  thing  about  the  worftiip  of  one  only  true  God, 

So  many  ways  did  the  Babylonifti  captivity  greatly 
prepare  the  way  for  Chrift's  coming. 

II.  The  next  particular  that  I  w^ould  take  notice  af 
is,  the  addition  made  to  the  canon  of  fcripture  in  the 
time  of  the  captivity,  in  thofe  two  remarkable  portions 
of  fcripture,  the  prophecies  of  Ezekiel  and  Daniel. 
Chrift  appeared  to  each  of  thefe  prophets  in  the  form 
of  that  nature  which  he  was  afterwards  to  take  upon 
him.  The  prophet  Ezekiel  gives  an  account  of  his  thus 
appearing  to  him  repeatedly,  as  Ezek.  i.  26.  *'  And 
•*  above  the  firmament  that  was  over  their  heads,  was 
*'  the  hkcnefs  of  a  throne,  as  the  appearance  of  a  fap- 
•'  phirc-ftone,  and  upon  the  likencfs  of  the  throne  was 
*'  the  likenefs  as  the  appearance  of  a  man  above  up- 
•*  on  it;"  and  fo  chap.  viii.  1.  2.  So  Chrift  appeared 
to  the  prophet  Daniel :  Dan.  viii.  15.  16.  "  There 
**  flood  before  me  as  the  appearance  of  a  man.  And 
*'  I  heard  a  man's  voice  between  the  banks  of  Ulai, 
*'  which  called,  and  faid,  Gabriel,  make  this  man  to 
'-*  underftand  thevifion."  There  are  feveral  things  that 
make  it  evident,  that  this  was  Chrift,  that  I  cannot 
now  ftand  to  mention  particularly.     So  Chrift  appeared 

again 


Fart  VI.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     165 

again  as  a  man  to  this  prophet,  chap.  x.  5.  6,  "  Then  I 
*'  Hft  up  mine  eyes  and  looked,  and  behold,  2  cer- 
*'  tain  man  clothed  in  linen,  whofe  loins  were  girded 
*'  with  fine  gold  of  Uphaz  :  his  body  alfo  was  like  the 
*'  ber}'l,  and  his  face  as  the  appearance  of  lightning, 
*'  and  his  eyes  as  lamps  of  fire,  and  his  arms  and  his 
*'  feet  like  in  colour  to  polifhed  brafs,  and  the  voice  of 
*'  his  words  like  the  voice  of  a  multitude."  Comparing 
this  vifion  with  that  of  the  apoitle  John  in  the  firlfc 
chapter  of  Revelation,  makes  it  manifeft  that  it  was 
Chi^ift.  And  the  prophet  Daniel,  in  the  hiflorical  part 
of  his  book,  gives  an  account  of  a  very  remarkable  ap- 
pearance of  Chrift  in  Nebuchadnezzar's  furnace,  with 
Shadrach,  Melhach,  and  Abednego.  We  have  the  ac- 
count of  it  in  the  3d  chapter.  In  the  25th  verfe,  Chriil: 
is  faid  to  be  like  the  fon  of  God;  and  it  is  manifefl 
that  he  appeared  in  the  form  of  man  :  *'  Lo,  I  fee  four 
*'  men  loofe, — and  the  form  of  the  fourth  is  like  the 
"  Son  of  God." 

Chriil  did  not  only  here  appear  in  the  form  of  the 
human  nature,  but  he  appeared  in  a  furnace,  faving 
thofe  perfons  who  believed  on  him  from  that  furnace ; 
by  ^vhich  is  reprefented  to  us,  how  Chrift,  by  coming 
himfelf  into  the  furnace  of  God's  wrath,  faves  thofe 
that  believe  in  him  from  that  furnace,  fo  that  it  has  no 
power  on  them ;  and  the  wrath  of  God  never  reaches, 
or  touches  them,  fo  much  as  to  finge  the  hair  of  theiir 
head. 

Thcfe  two  prophets,  in  many  refpeOs,  were  more 
particular  concerning  the  coming  of  Chrift,  and  his 
glorious  gofpel-kingdom,  than  any  of  the  prophets  had 
been  before.  They  both  of  them  mention  thofe  three 
great  overturnings  of  the  world  that  fhould  be  before 
he  came.  Ezekiel  is  particular  in  feveral  places  con- 
cerning the  coming  of  Chrift,  The  prophet  Daniel  is 
more  particular  in  foretelling  the  time  of  the  coming  of 
Chrift  than  ever  any  prophet  had  been  before,  in  the 
9th  chapter  of  his  prophecy ;  who  foretold,  that  it 
Ihould  be  feventy  weeks,  z.  e.  fevcnty  weeks  of  years, 
or  feventy  times  feven  years,  or  four  hundred  and  nine- 
ty years,  from  the  decree*  to  rebuild  and  reftore  the 
flate  of  the  Jews,  till  the  Mefliah  fliould  be  crucified  ; 
which  miift  be  reckoned  from  the  commiflion  given  tot 
S  2  Ez.ra 


104  A  HISTORY  of  Period  L 

Ezra  by  Artaxerxes,  that  we  have  an  account  of  in 
the  7th  chapter  of  Ezra  ;  whereby  the  very  particular 
time  of  Chrifl's  crucifixion  was  pointed  out,  which  ne- 
ver had  been  before. 

The  prophet  Ezekiel  is  very  particular  in  the  myftical 
defcription  of  the  gofpel -church,  in  his  account  of  his 
vifiou  of  the  temple  and  city,  in  the  latter  part  of  his 
prophecy.  The  prophet  Daniel  points  out  the  order  of 
particular  events  that  ihould  come  to  pafs  relating  to 
the  Chriftian  church  after  Chrift  was  come,  as  the  rife 
of  Antichrift,  and  the  continuance  of  his  reign,  and 
his  fall,  and  the  glory  that  fhould  follow. 

Thus  does  gofpel-light  Hill  increafe,  the  nearer  we 
come  to  the  time  of  Chrift. 

III.  The  next  particular  I  would  mention  is,  the  de- 
llruftion  of  Babylon,  and  the  overthrow  of  the  Chal- 
dean empire  by  Cyrus.  The  deftruftion  of  Babylon 
was  in  that  night  in  which  Belfhazzar  the  king,  and  the 
city  in  general  was  drowned  in  a  drunken  feftival, 
which  they  kept  to  their  gods,  when  Daniel  was  called 
to  read  the  hand-writing  on  the  wall,  Dan.  v.  30.  and 
it  was  brought  about  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  wonderfully 
to  fhow  the  hand  of  God,  and  remarkably  to  fulfil  his 
word  by  his  prophets,  which  I  cannot  now  ftand  parti- 
cularly to  relate.  Now  that  great  city,  which  had  long 
been  an  enemy  to  the  city  of  God,  his  Jerufalem,  was 
deftroyed,  after  it  had  flood  ever  fince  the  firit  build- 
ing of  Babel,  which  was  about  feventeen  hundred 
years.  If  the  check  that  was  put  to  the  building  this 
city  at  its  beginning,  whereby  they  were  prevented  from 
carrying  of  it  to  that  extent  and  magnificence  that  they 
intended  ;  I  fay,  if  this  promoted  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion, as  I  have  before  fhown  it  did,  much  more  did 
this  deftruftion  of  it. 

It  was  a  remarkable  inftance  of  God's  vengeance  on 
the  enemies  of  his  redeemed  church  ;  for  God  brought 
this  defiruftion  on  Babylon  for  the  injuries  they  did  to 
God's  children,  as  is  often  fet  forth  in  the  prophets. 
It  alfo  promoted  the  work  of  redemption,  as  thereby 
God's  people,  that  were  held  captive  by  them,  were 
let  at  liberty  to  return  to  their  own  land  to  rebuild  Je- 
jufalem;  and  therefore  Cyrus,  who  did  it,  is  called 
Ciod'b  iiiCphcrd  therein.  If.  xliv.  latter  end;  and  xlv.  1, 

And 


Part  VI.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     16 


<> 


And  thefe  are  over  and  above  thofe  ways  wherein  the 
fetting  up  and  overthrowing  the  four  monarchies  of  the 
world  did  promote  the  work  of  redemption,  which 
have  been  before  obferved. 

IV.  What  next  followed  this  was,  the  return  of  the 
Jews  to  their  own  land,  and  rebuilding  Jerufalcm  and 
the  temple.  Cyrus,  as  foon  as  he  had  deitroyed  the 
JBabylonifh  empire,  and  had  erefted  the  Pcfian  empire 
on  its  ruins,  made  a  decree  in  favour  of  the  Jews,  that 
they  might  return  to  their  own  land,  and  rebuild  their 
city  and  temple.  This  return  of  the  Jews  out  of  the 
Babylonifli  captivity  is,  next  to  the  redemption  out  of 
Eg^'pr,  the  moft  remarkable  of  all  the  Old  Teflam.ent 
redemptions,  and  moft  infifted  on  in  fcripturp,  as  a 
type  of  the  great  redemption  of  Jefus  Chrilh  It  was 
under  the  hand  of  one  of  the  legal  anceftors  of  Chrift, 
viz.  Zerubbabel,  the  fon  of  Shealtiel,  whofe  Babylo- 
nifli  name  was  Shefhbazzar.  He  was  the  governor  of 
the  Jews,  and  their  leader  in  their  firft  return  out  of 
captivity;  and,  together  with  Jofhua,  the  fon  of  Jofe-r 
dek  the  high  prieft,  had  the  chief  hand  in  re-building 
Ithe  temple.  This  redemption  was  brought  about  hy 
the  hand  of  Zerubbabel  and  Joihua  the  prieft,  as  the 
redemption  out  of  Egypt  was  brought  about  by  the 
hand  of  Mofes  and  Aaron. 

The  return  out  of  the  captivity  was  a  remarkable  dif- 
penfation  of  providence.  It  was  remarkable,  that  the 
heart  of  a  Heathen  prince,  as  Cyrus  was,  fhould  be  fo 
inclined  to  favour  fuch  a  defign  as  he  did,  not  only  in. 
giving  the  people  liberty  to  return,  and  re-build  the  city 
and  temple,  but  in  giving  charge  that  they  fhould  be 
helped  with  filver  and  gold,  and  v/ith  goods,  and  with 
beafts,  as  we  read  in  Ezra  i.  4.  And  afterwards  God 
wonderfully  inclined  the  heart  of  Darius  to  further  the 
building  of  the  houfe  of  God  with  his  own  tribute-. 
money,  and  by  commanding  their  bitter  enemies,  the 
Samaritans,  who  had  been  ftriving  to  hinder  them,  to 
help  them  without  fail,  by  furnilhing  them  with  all 
that  they  needed  in  order  to  it,  and  to  fupply  them  day 
by  day  ;  making  a  decree,  that  whofoever  failed  of  it, 
timber  ihould  be  pulled  down  out  of  his  houfe,  and  he 
hanged  thereon,  and  his  houfe  made  a  dunghill  ;  as  we 
have  an  accouyit  in  the  6th  chapter  of  Ei^ra.     And  after 

this 


ibG  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Period  I. 

this  God  inclined  the  heart  of  Artaxerxes,  another 
king  of  Perfia,  to  promote  the  work  of  reftoring  the 
{late  of  the  Jews,  by  his  ample  commifTion  to  Ezra, 
which  we  have  an  account  of  in  the  7th  chapter  of 
Ezra ;  helping  them  abundantly  with  filver  and  gold  of 
liis  own  bounty,  and  offering  more,  as  fhould  be  need- 
ful, out  of  the  King's  treafure-houfe,  and  commanding 
his  treafurers  beyond  the  river  Euphrates  to  give  more, 
as  fhould  be  needed,  unto  an  hundred  talents  of  filver, 
and  an  hundred  meafures  of  wheat,  an  hundred  baths 
of  wine,  and  an  hundred  baths  of  oil,  and  fait,  with- 
out prefcribing  how  much ;  and  giving  leave  to  eftablifh 
inagiilrates  in  the  land ;  and  freeing  the  priefts  from  toll, 
tribute,  and  cuftom,  and  other  things,  which  render 
this  decree  and  comniifrion  by  Artaxerxes  the  moft  full 
and  ample  in  the  Jews  favour  of  any  that,  at  any  time, 
had  been  given  for  the  reftoring  of  Jerufalem :  and 
therefore,  in.  Daniel's  prophecy,  this  is  called  the  decree 
for  reftoring  and  building  Jerufalem ;  and  hence  the 
feventy  weeks  are  dated. 

And  then,  after  this,  another  favourable  commifti- 
on  was  granted  by  the  King  of  PeiTia  to  Nehemiah, 
which  we  have  an  account  of  in  the  2d  chapter  of  Ne- 
hemiah. 

It  was  remarkable  that  the  hearts  of  Heathen  princes 
ihould  be  fo  inclined.  It  was  the  effeft  of  his  power, 
who  hath  the  hearts  of  kinscs  in  his  hands,  and  turneth 
them  whitherfoever  he  will ;  ^nd  it  w^as  a  remarkable 
inftance  of  his  favour  to  his  people. 

Another  remarkable  circumftance  of  this  reftitution 
of  the  ftate  of  the  Jews  to  their  own  land  was,  that  it 
was  accomplilhed  againft  fo  much  oppofition  of  their 
bitter  indefatigable  enemies  the  Samaritans,  who,  for  a 
long  time  together,  with  all  the  malice  and  craft  they 
could  exercife,  oppofed  the  Jews  in  this  affair,  and 
fought  their  deftruftion  ;  one  while  by  Bifhlam,  Mith- 
ridath,  Tabeel,  Rehum,  and  Shimfhai,  as  in  Ezra  iv. 
and  then  by  Tatnai,  Shetharboznai,  and  their  compa- 
iiions,  as  in  chap  v.  and  afterwards  by  Sanballat  and 
Tobiah,  as  we  read  in  the  book  of  Nehemiah. 

We  have  fhewed  before  how  the  fettlement  of  the 
people  in  this  land  in  Jofhua's  time  promoted  the  work 
of  redem.ption.    On  the  fame  accounts  does  their  rcfti- 

tuticxi 


Part  VI.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     167 

tulioii  belong  to  the  fame  work.  The  rc-fettlcment  of 
the  Jews  in  the  land  of  Canaan  belongs  to  this  work,  as 
it  was  a  neceffary  means  of  jirefervlng  the  Jewifli  church 
and  difpenfation  in  being,  till  Chrilt  fliould  come.  If 
it  had  not  been  for  this  reftoration  of  the  JewiOi 
church,  and  temple,  and  worfliip,  the  people  had 
remained  without  any  temple,  and  land  of  their  own, 
that  fliould  be  as  it  were  their  head-quarters,  a  place  of 
worfliip,  habitation,  and  refort ;  the  whole  conflitu- 
tion,  which  God  had  done  fo  much  to  eftablifli,  would 
have  been  in  danger  of  utterly  failing,  long  before  that 
fix  hundred  years  had  been  out,  which  was  from  about 
the  time  of  the  captivity  till  Chrift.  And  fo  all  that 
preparation  which  God  had  been  making  for  the  coming 
of  Chrilt,  from  the  time  of  Abraham,  would  have 
been  in  vain.  Now  that  very  temple  was  built  that 
God  would  fill  with  glory  by  Chiift's  coming  into  it, 
as  the  Prophet's  Haggai  and  Zechariah  told  the  Jews  to 
encourage  them  in  building  it. 

V.  The  next  particular  I  would  obferve,  is  the  ad- 
dition made  to  the  canon  of  the  fcriptures  foon  after 
the  captivity  by  the  prophets  Haggai,  and  Zechariah, 
who  were  prophets  fent  to  encourage  the  people  in  their 
w^ork  of  re-building  the  city  and  temple  ;  and  the  main 
argument  they  make  ufe  of  to  that  end,  is  the  approach 
of  the  time  of  the  coming  of  Chrift.  Haggai  foretold 
that  Chrift  fhould  be  of  Zerubbabels  legal  pofterity, 
laft  chapter  laft  verfe.  This  feem^s  to  be  the  laft  and 
moft  particular  revelation  of  the  defcent  of  Chrift,  till 
the  angel  Gabriel  \vas  fent  to  reveal  it  to  his  mother 
Mar)^ 

VI.  The  next  thing  I  would  take  notice  of,  was  the 
pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  that  accompanied  the 
miniftiy  of  Ezra  the  prieft  after  the  captivity.  That 
there  was  fuch  a  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  that 
accompanied  Ezra's  miniftry,  is  manifefl  by  many  things 
in  the  books  of  Ezra  and  Nehemiah.  Prefently  after 
Ezra  came  up  from  Babylon,  with  the  ample  commif- 
fion  which  Artaxcrxes  gave  him,  whence  Daniel's  fe- 
venty  weeks  began,  he  fet  himfelf  to  reform  the  vices 
and  corruptions  he  found  among  the  Jews ;  and  his 
great'fuccefi  in  it  we  have  an  'iccomit  of  in  the  loih 

chapter 


i68  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  I. 

chapter  of  Ezra  ;  fo  that  there  appeared  a  very  general 
and  great  mourning  of  the  congregation  of  Ifrael  for 
their  fins,  which  was  accompanied  with  a  foleran  co- 
venant that  the  people  entered  into  with  God  ;  and  this 
was  followed  with  a  great  and  general  reformation,  as 
we  have  there  an  account.  And  the  people  about  the 
fame  time,  with  great  zeal  andearneffners  and  reverence, 
gathered  themfelves  together  to  hear  the  word  of  God 
read  by  Ezra  ;  and  gave  diligent  attention,  while  Ezra 
and  the  other  priells  preached  to  them,  by  reading 
and  expounding  the  law,  and  were  greatly  affefted  in 
the  hearing  of  it.  They  wept  when  they  heard  the 
words  of  the  law,  and  fet  themfelves  to  obferve  the  law, 
and  kept  the  feaft  of  tabernacles,  as  the  fcripture  ob- 
fcnes,  after  fuch  a  manner  as  it  had  not  been  kept 
ilnce  the  da)  s  of  Jofhua  the  fon  of  Nun  ;  as  we  have 
account  in  the  8th  chapter  of  Nehemaah :  And  after 
this,  having  feparated  themfelves  from  all  flrangers, 
tliey  folemnly  obferved  a  fall,  by  hearing  the  word  of 
God,  confefling  their  fins,  and  renewing  their  cove- 
nant with  God :  and  manifefted  their  fincerity  in  that 
tranfaftion,  by  a8.ually  reforming  many  abufes  in  re- 
ligion and  morals ;  as  we  learn  from  the  9th  and  fol- 
knving  chapter  of  Nehemiah, 

It  is  obfervable,  that  it  hasbeen  God's  manner  in  every 
remarkable  new  eflablifliment  of  the  Hate  of  his  vifible 
church,  to  give  a  remarkable  outpouring  of  his  fpirit. 
So  it  was  on  the  firft  ellablifhment  of  the  church  of  the 
Jews  at  their  fiifl  coming  into  Canaan  under  Jolhua, 
as  has  been  obferved  ;  and  fo  it  was  now  in  this  fecand 
fettlement  of  the  church  in  the  fame  land  in  the  time 
of  Ezra ;  and  fo  it  was  on  the  firft  eflablilhment  of 
the  ChriP.ian  church  after  Chrifl's  refurreftion  ;  God 
wifely  and  gracioully  laying  the  foundation  of  thofe 
eRablilhments  in  a  work  of  his  holy  Spirit,  for  the 
lading  benefit  of  the  ftate  of  his  church,  thencefor- 
ward continued  in  thofe  eflablifliments.  And  this 
])t)uring  out  of  the  fpirit  of  God,  was  a  final  cure  of 
that  nation  of  that  particular  fin  which  jufl  before  they 
cfpecially  run  into,  viz.  hilermarrying  with  the  Gen- 
tiles :  for  liowever  inclined  to  it  they  were  before,  they 
e^  cr  iUici  iliC'.ved  an  avcrfion  to  it. 

VII.  Ezra 


Part  VI.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     169 

VII.  Ezra  added  to  the  canon  of  the  fcriptures.   He 
wrote  the  book  of  Ezra  ;  and  he  is  fuppoled  to  have 
written  the  two  books  of  Chronicles,  at  Icaft  of  com- 
piHng  them,  if  he  was  not  the  author  of  the  materials, 
or  all  the  parts  of  thefe  writings.     That  thefe  books 
were  written,  or  compiled  and  completed,  after  the  cap- 
tivity, the    things  contained  in  the  books  themfelves 
make  manifefl ;  for  the  genealogies  contained  therein  are 
brought  down  below  the  captivity ;  as  1  Chron.iii.  17. 
8:c.   We  have  there  an  account  of  the  poflerity  of  Je- 
hoiachin  for  feveral  fucccfFive  generations.    And  there 
is  mention  in  thefe  books  of  this  captivity  into  Babylon, 
as  of  a  thing  paft,  and  of  things  that  were  done  on  the 
return  of  the  Jews  after  the  captivity  ;  as  you  may  fee 
in  the  9th  chapter  of  1  Cliron.     The  chapter  is  moftly 
filled  up  with  an  account  of  things  that  came  to  pafs  af- 
ter the  captivity  into  Babylon,  as  you  may  fee  by  com- 
paring it  with  what  is  faid  in  the  books  of  Ezra  and  Ne- 
hemiah.     And  that  Ezra  was  the  perfon  that  compiled 
thefe  books,  is  probable  by  this,  becaufe  they  conclude 
with  words  that  we  know  are  the  words  of  Ezra's  hi- 
flor}^     The  two  laft  verfes  are  Ezra's  words  in  the  hi- 
llory  he  gives  in   the  two  firfl  verfes  of  the  book  of 
Ezra. 

VIII.  Ezra  is  fuppofed  tohave  collected  all  the  books 
of  which  the  holy  fcriptures  did  then  confift,  and  dif- 
pofed  them  in  their  proper  order.  Ezra  is  often  fpo- 
ken  of  as  a  noted  and  eminent  fcribe  of  the  law  of  God, 
and  the  canon  of  fcripture  in  his  time  was  manifeftly 
under  his  fpecial  care  ;  and  the  Jews,  from  the  firft  ac- 
counts we  have  from  them,  have  always  held,  that  the 
canon  of  fcripture,  fo  much  of  it  as  was  then  extant^ 
was  collefted,  and  orderly  difpofed  and  fettled  by  Ezra; 
and  that  from  him  they  have  delivered  it  dov/n  in  the 
order  in  which  he  difpofed  it,  till  Chrift's  time  ;  when 
*the  Chriftian  church  received  it  from  them,  and  have 
delivered  it  down  to  our  times.  And  the  truth  of  this 
is  allowed  as  undoubted  by  divines  in  general. 

IX.  The  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  and 
promoted  in  this  period,  by  greatly  multiplving  the  co- 
pies of  the  law,  and  appointing  the  conflant  public  read- 
ing of  them  in  all  the  cities  of  Ifrael  in  their  f)'na« 
gogues.  It  is  evident,  that  before  the  captivity,  there 
T  wer? 


i-jo  A   HISTORY    OF  Period  L 

were  but  few  copies  of  the  law.  There  was  the  original, 
laid  up  befide  the  ark;  and  the  kings  were  required  to 
write  out  a  copy  of  the  law  for  their  ufe,  and  the  law 
was  required  to  be  read  to  the  whole  congregation  of 
Ifracl  once  every  feventh  year.     And  we  have  no  ac- 
count of  any  other  ftated  public  reading  of  the  law  be- 
fore the  captivity  but  this.     And  it  is  manifeft  by  feve- 
ral  things  that  might  be  mentioned,  that  copies  of  the 
law  were  exceeding  rare  before  the  captivity.     But  af- 
ter the  captivity,   the  conflant  reading  of  the  law  was 
let  up  in  every  fynagogue  throughout  the  land.     Firft, 
they  began  with  reading  the  law,  and  then  they  pro- 
ceeded to  eftablifh  the   conflant  reading   of  the   other 
books  of  the  Old  Tellament.     And  lelfons  were  read 
out  of  the  Old  Teftament,  as  made  up  of  both  the  law 
raid  the  other  parts  of  the  fcripture  then  extant,  in  all 
the  f)  nagogues,  which  were  fet  up  in  every  city,  and 
every -where,  wherever  the  Jews  in  any   confiderable 
number  dwelt,  as  our  meeting-houfes  are.     Thus  we 
find  it  was  in  Chrift's  and  the  apoftles  time,  A61s  kv.  2 1 . 
*'  Mofes  of  old  time  hath  in  every  city  them  that  preach 
*'  him,  being  read  in  the  fynagogues  every  fabbath-day." 
This  cuftom  is  univerfal.ly  fuppofed,  both  by  Jews  and 
Chriilians,  to  be  begun  by  Ezra.     There  were  boubt- 
lefs  public  affemblies  before  the  captivity  into  Babylon. 
They  ufed  to  alTemble  at  the  temple  at  their  great  feafts, 
and  were  direfted,  when  they  were  at  a  lofs  about  any 
thing  in  the  law,  to  go  to  tlie  prieft  for  inllruclion  ; 
and  they  ufed  alfo  to  refort  to  the  prophets  houfes:  and 
we  read  of  fynagogues  in  the  land  before,  Pfal.  Ixxiv.  8. 
But  it  is  not  fuppofed  that  they  had  copies  of  the  law 
for  ccnftant  public  readin<T  and  expounding  through 
the  land  before,  as   afterwards.     This  was  one  great 
aneans  of  their  being  preferved  from  idolatry. 

X.  The  next  thing  I  would  mjention,  is  God's  re- 
markably preferving  the  church  and  nation  of  the  Jews, 
whc'n  they  were  in  imminent  danger  of  being  univerfal- 
ly  deflroycd  by  Haman.  We  have  the  flory  in  the  book 
of  Ellher,  with  which  you  arc  acquainted.  This  feries 
of  providences  was  very  wonderful  in  preventing  this 
deftruftion.  Efther  was  doubtlefs  born  for  this  end  to 
be  the  inflrument  of  this  remarkable  prefervation. 

XI.  After  this  the  canon  of  fcripture  was  further  ad- 

ded 


Pan  VI.   The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    171 

ded  to  in  the  books  of  Nehemiah  arid  Ellher  ;  the  one 
by  Nehemiah  himfelf ;  and  whether  the  other  was  writ- 
ten by  Nehemiah,  or  Mordecai,  or  Malachi,  is  not  of 
importance  for  us  to  know,  fo  long  as  it  is  one  of  thofe 
books  that  were  ahvays  admitted  and  received  as  a  part 
of  their  canon  by  the  Jews,  and  was  among  thofe  books 
that  the  jews  called  their  fcriptures  in  ChriU's  time, 
and  as  fuch  was  approved  by  him.  For  Chrili  does 
often  in  his  fpeeches  to  the  Jews,  manifeftly  approve 
and  confirm  thofe  books,  which  amongft  them  went  by 
the  name  of  the  fcriptures^  as  might  eafily  be  (how  11, 
if  there  were  time  for  it^ 

XII.  After  this  the  canon  of  the  Old  Teflament.was 
completed  and  fealed  by  Malachi.  The  manner  of  his 
concluding  his  prophecy  feems  to  imply  that  they  wer? 
to  expeft  no  more  prophecies,  and  no  more  written 
revelations  from  God,  till  Chrill  fhould  come.  For  in 
the  laft  chapter  he  prophecies  of  Chrift's  coming  ;  ver, 
2.  3.  "  But  unto  you  that  fear  my  name,  fliall  the  Sun 
*'  of  righteoufnefs  arife  with  healing  in  his  wings;  and 
*'  ye  fliall  go  forth  and  grow  up  as  calves  of  the  ftall, 
*'  And  ye  ihall  tread  dow^n  the  wicked  ;  for  diey  fhall 
"  be  as  afhes  under  the  foles  of  your  feet,  iii  die  day 
•'  that  I  fhall  do  this,  faith  the  Lord  of  hofts/'  Then 
we  read  in  ver,  4.  "  Remember  ye  the  law  of  Mofes 
"  my  fervant,  which  I  commanded  unto  him,  in  Horeb 
•■'  for  all  Ifrael,  with  the  flatutes  and  judgments,"  i.  e. 
Remember  and  improve  what  ye  have  ;  keep  clofe  to. 
that  written  rule  you  have,  as  expefting  no  more  addi- 
tions to  it,  till  the  night  of  the  Old  Teftament  is  over, 
and  the  Sun  of  righteoufnefs  fhall  at  length  ax'ife. 

XIII.  Soon  after  this,  the.  fpirit  of  prophecy  ceafed 
among  that  people  till  the  time  of  the  New  Teftament. 
Thus  the  Old  Teftament  light,  the  ifars  of  the  long 
night,  began  apace  to  hide  their  heads,  the  time  of  the 
Sun  of  Righteoufnefs  now  drawing  niglv  We  before 
obferved,  how  the  kings  of  the  houfe  of  David  ceaied 
before  the  true  king  and  head  of  the  church  came;  and 
how  the  cloud  of  glory  withdrew  before  Chrift,  the 
brightnefs  of  the  Father's  glory,  appeared  ;  and  fb  as  to, 
feveral  other  things.  And  now  at  lalt  the  fpirit  of  pro- 
phecy ceafed.    The  time  of  the  great  prophet,  of  God. 

T  2  \i^% 


172  A  HISTORY   of  Period  I. 

was  now  fo  nigh,  it  was  time  for  their  typical  prophets 
to  be  filent,  and  fliut  their  mouths. 

We  have  now  gone  through  with  the  time  that  wc 
have  any  hiftorical  account  of  in  the  writings  of  the 
Old  Tellament,  and  the  laft  thing  that  was  mentioned^ 
by  which  the  work  of  redemption  was  promoted,  was 
tlic  ceafingof  the  fpirit  of  prophecy. 

1  now  proceed  to  fhow  how  the  work  of  redemption 
was  carried  on  through  the  remaining  times  that  were 
before  Chrift  :  in  which  we  have  not  that  thread  of 
fcripture-hiHory  to  guide  us  that  we  have  had  hitherto; 
but  have  thefe  three  things  to  guide  us,  viz.  the  pro- 
phecies of  the  Old  Tellament,  hiunan  hiflories  of  thofe 
times,  and  fome  occafional  m^ention  m.ade,  and  fome 
evidence  given,  of  fome  things  which  happened  in  thofe 
times  in  the  New  Tellament.     Therefore, 

XIV.  The  next  particular  that  I  ihall  mention  under 
this  period,  is  the  dellruftion  of  the  Perfian  empire, 
and  letting  up  of  the  Giecian  empire  by  Alexander. 
This  came  to  pafs  about  fixty  or  feventy  years  after  the 
tim^es  wherein  the  prophet  Malachi  is  fuppofed  to  have 
prophefied,  and  about  three  hundred  and  thirty  years 
before  Chrift.  '  This  was  the  third  overturning  of 
the  world  that  came  to  pafs  in  this  period,  and  was 
greater  and  more  remarkable  than  either  of  the  fore- 
going. It  was  very  remarkable  on  account  of  the  fud- 
dennefs  of  that  conqueft  of  the  world  which  Alexander 
made,  and  the  greatnefs  of  the  empire  which  he  fet 
up,  which  much  exceeded  all  the  foregoing  in  its  ex- 
tent. 

This  event  is  much  fpoken  of  in  the  prophecies  of 
Daniel.  This  empire  is  reprefented  by  the  third  king- 
dom of  brafs  in  Daniel's  interpretation  of  Nebuchad- 
nQzzar's  dream,  as  in  Dan.  ii.  and  in  Daniel's  vifion 
of  the  four  beafls,'is  reprefented  by  the  third  beaft  that 
was  like  a  leopard,  that  had  on  bis  back  four  wings  of 
a  fowl,  to  rcprefent  the  fwiftncfs  of  its  conqueft,  chap, 
vii.  and  is  more  particularly  reprefented  by  the  he-goat 
in  the  8ih  chapter,  that  came  from  the  weft  on  the 
face  of  the  whole  earth,  and  touched  not  the  ground, 
ti}  reprefcnt  how  fwiftly  Alexander  over-run  the  world. 
7'hf  angel  himfclf  does  exprefsjy  interpret  this  he -goat 

to 


Part  VI.    The  Work  oi'  REDEMPTION.     173 

to  fignify  the  king  of  Grecia,  ver.  21.  The  rough 
goat' is  the  kijig  of  Grecia;  and  the  great  horn  that  i^ 
between  his  eyes  is  the  firft  king,  2.  t.  Alexander  him- 
iclf. 

After  Alexander  had  conquered  the  world,  he  foon 
died  ;  and  his  dominion  did  irot  defcend  to  his  poflerity, 
but  four  of  his  principal  captains  divided  his  empire 
betvv^een  them,  as  it  there  follows.  Now  that  being 
broken,  whereas  four  flood  up  for  it,  four  kingdoms 
jhall  ftand  up  out  of  the  nation,  but  not  in  his  power ; 
lb  you  may  fee  in  the  11th  chapter  of  Daniel.  The 
angel,  after  foretelling  of  the  Perfian  empire,  then  pro- 
ceeds to  foretell  of  Alexander,  ver.  3.  "And  a  mighty 
*'  king  fhall  Hand  up,  that  Ihall  rule  with  great  domi- 
*'  nipn,  and  do  according  to  his  will."  And  then  he 
foretells,  in  the  4th  verfe,  of  the  dividing  of  his  king- 
dom between  his  four  captains :  "  And  when  he  fhall 
"  fland  up,  his  kingdom  fhall  be  broken,  and  fhall  be 
*•  divided  toward  the  four  winds  of  heaven  ;  and  not  to 
*'  his  poflerity,  nor  according  to  his  dominion  whicl) 
.*'  he  ruled  :  for  his  kingdom  fhall  be  plucked  up,  cvei^i 
*'  for  others  befides  thofe."  Two  of  thefe  four  cap-, 
tains,  whofe  kingdoms  were  next  to  Judea,  the  one 
had  Eg)'pt  and  the  neighbouring  countries  on  the  fouth 
of  Jadea,  and  the  other  had  Syria  and  the  neighbour- 
ing countries  north  of  Judea ;  and  thefe  two  are  thofe 
that  are  called  the  kings  of  the  north  and  of  the  fputh, 
in  the  11th  chapter  of  Daniel. 

Now,  this  fetting  up  of  the  Grecian  empire  did 
greatly  prepare  the  way  for  Chrifl's  coming,  and  fet- 
ting up  his  kingdom  in  the  world.  Befides  ihefe  ways 
common  to  the  other  overturnings  of  the  world  in  this 
period,  that  have  been  already  mentioned,  there  is 
one  peculiar  to  this  revohuion,  which  I  would  take  no- 
tice of,  which  did  remarkably  promote  the  work  ofre- 
flemption  and  that  was,  that  it  made  the  Greek  lan- 
guage common  in  the  world.  To  have  one  com.mon 
language  underllood  and  ufed  through  the  greater  part 
of  the  world,  was  a  thing  that  did  greatly  prepare  the 
v/ay  for  the  fetting  up  of  Chrifl's  kingdom.'  This  gave 
advantage  for  fpreading  th.e  gofpel  from  one  nation  to 
another,  and  fo  through  all  nations,  with  vaflly  greater 
eafe,  than  if  every  nation  had  a  difliiiQ  lan^Mage,  and 

did 


174  A  HISTORY    Of  Periodl. 

did  not  underftand  each  other.  For  though  fome  of 
tiie  firft  preachers  of  the  gofpel  had  the  gift  of  languages, 
fo  that  they  could  preach  in  any  language  ;  yet  all  had 
not  this  particular  gift ;  and  they  that  had,  could  not 
exercife  it  when  they  would,  but  only  at  fpecial  feafons, 
when  the  Spirit  of  God  was  pleafed  to  infpire  them  in 
this  way.  And  the  church,  in  different  parts  of  the 
world,  as  the  churches  of  Jerufalem,  Antioch,  Galatia, 
Corinth,  and  others,  which  were  in  countries  diftant 
one  from  another,  could  not  have  had  that  communi- 
cation one  with  another,  which  we  have  an  account  of 
in  the  book  of  ABs,  if  they  had  had  no  common  lan- 
traage.  So  it  was  before  the  Grecian  empire  was  fet 
no.  But  after  this,  many  in  all  thefe  countries  well 
iinderftood  the  fame  language,  viz.  the  Greek  lan- 
«Tiiage  ;  which  wonderfully  opened  the  door  for  mutual 
communication  between  thofe  churches,  fo  far  feparat- 
ed  one  fiom  another.  And  again,  the  making  the 
Greek  language  common  through  fo  great  a  part  of  the 
world,  did  wonderfully  make  way  for  the  fetting  up  of 
the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  becaufe  it  was  the  language  in 
which  the  New  Teftament  was  to  be  originally  written, 
The  apoftles  propagated  the  gofpel  through  many 
fcores  of  nations ;  and  if  they  could  not  have  under- 
wood the  Bible  any  otherwife  than  as  it  was  tranflated 
into  {o  many  languages,  it  would  have  rendered  the 
ipreading  of  the  gofpel  vaftly  more  difficult.  But  by 
the  Greek  language  being  made  common  to  all,  they 
all  underflood  the  New  Teflament  of  jefus  Chrift,  m 
the  language  in  which  the  apoflles  and  evangeliffs  ori- 
ginally wrote  it ;  fo  that  as  foon  as  ever  it  was  written 
by  its' original  penman,  it  immediately  lay  open  to  the 
w'orid  in  a  language  that  was  commonly  underffood 
cveiy  where,  as  there  was  no  language  that  was  fo  com- 
monly underflood  in  the  world  in  Chrifl's  and  the  apo- 
illes  times  as  the  Greek  ;  the  caufe  of  which  was  the 
fetting  up  of  the  Grecian  empire  in  the  world. 
^*  XV.  The  next  thing  I  fhall  take  notice  of  is,  the 
^tranflating  pf  the  fcriptures  of  the  Old  Teflament  into 
a  language  that  was  commonly  underflood  by  the  Gen- 
tiles. Tlie  tranflation  that  I  here  fpeak  of,  is  that  into, 
the  Greek  language,  that  is  commonly  called  the  Sep- 
tungint,  or  the  tranflation  of  the  fevcnty.     This  is  fup-. 

pofed 


Part  VI.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     175 

pofed  to  have  been  made  about  fifty  or  fixty  years  aiier 
Alexander's  conquering  the  world.  Tliis  is  the  firlfc 
tranflation  that  ever  was  made  of  the  fci  iptures  that  we 
liave  any  credible  account  of.  The  canon  of  the  Old 
Teftament  had  been  conipleated  by  the  prophet  Malachi 
but  about  an  hundred  and  twenty  years  before  in  its 
original ;  and  hitlierto  the  fcriptures  had  remained  lock- 
ed up  from  all  other  nations  but  the  Jews,  in  the  He- 
brew tongue,  which  was  underftood  by  no  other  na- 
tion. But  now  it  was  trandated  into  the  Greek  lan- 
guage; which,  as  we  obferved  before,  was  a  language 
that  was  commonly  underftood  by  the  nations  of  the 
world. 

This  tranflation  of  the  old  Teftament  is  ftill  extant, 
and  is  commonly  in  the  hands  of  learned  men  in  thefe 
davs,  and  is  made  great  ufe  of  by  them.  The  Jews 
have  many  fables  about  the  occafion  and  manne/of  this 
tranflation  ;  but  the  truth  of  the  cafe  is  fuppofed  to  be 
this,  that  multitudes  of  the  Jews  living  in  other  parts  of 
the  world  befides  Judea,  and  being  born  and  bred  among 
the  Greeks,  the  Greek  became  their  common  language, 
and  they  did  notunderftand  the  original  Hebrew;  and 
therefore  they  procured  the  fcriptures  to  be  tranflated 
for  their  ufe  into  the  Greek  language :  and  fo  hence- 
forward the  Jews  in  all  countries,  except  Judea,  were 
wont  in  their  fynagogues  to  make  ufe  of  this  tranflation 
inftead  of  the  Hebrew. 

This  tranflation  of  the  fcriptures  into  a  language 
commonly  underftood  through  the  world,  prepared  the 
way  for  Chriil's  coming,  and  fettingup  his  kingdom  in 
the  world,  and  afterwards  did  greatly  promiOte  it.  For 
as  the  apoftles  went  preaching  through  the  world,  thev 
made  great  ufe  of  the  fcriptures  of  the  Old  Teftament, 
and  efpecially  of  the  prophecies  concerning  Chrift  that 
were  contained  in  them.  And  by  m.eans  of  this  tranf- 
lation, and  by  the  Jews  being  fcattered  every  where, 
they  had  the  fcriptures  at  hand  in  a  language  that  was 
underftood  by  the  Gentiles :  and  they  did  princi- 
pally make  ufe  of  his  tranflation  in  their  preaching 
and  writings  wherever  they  went;  as  is  evident  by 
this,  that  in  all  the  innumerable  quotations  that  ave 
made  out  of  the  Old  Teftament  in  their  writings  in  the 
New  Teftament,  thev  are  almoft  everv  where  in  the  veiv 


iy6  A   HISTORY   of  Period  L 

words  of  tlie  Septuagint.  The  fenfe  is  did  fame  as  it  is 
in  the  original  Hebrew ;  but  very  often  the  words  are 
different,  as  all  that  are  acquainted  widi  their  Bibles 
know.  When  the  apoftles  in  their  epiftles,  and  the  e- 
vangelifts  in  their  hiftories,  cite  pafFages  out  of  the  Old 
Tellament,  it  is  very  often  in  different  words  from  what 
we  have  in  the  Old  Tellament,  as  all  know.  But  yet 
thefe  citations  are  almoft  univerfally  in  the  very  words 
of  the  Septuagint  verfion  ;  for  that  may  be  feen  by  com- 
paring them  together,  they  being  both  written  in  the 
fame  language.  This  makes  it  evident,  that  the  apo- 
illes,  in  their  preaching  and  writings,  commonly  made 
ufe  of  this  tranllation.  So  this  very  tranflation  was  that 
which  was  principally  ufed  in  Chriftian  churches  through 
moH  nations  of  the  world  for  feveral  hundred  years  af- 
ter Chrift. 

XVI.  The  next  thing  is  the  wonderful  prefervation 
of  the  church  -when  it  was  eminently  threatened  and 
perfecuted  under  the  Grecian  empire. 

The  firft  time  they  were  threatened  was  by  Alexan- 
der himfelf.  When  he  v/as  befieging  the  city  of  Tyre, 
fending  to  the  Jews  for  afiiilance  and  fupplies  for  his 
army,  and  they  refufing,  out  of  a  confcientious  regard 
to  their  oath  to  the  king  of  Perfia,  he  being  a  man  of  a 
very  furious  fpirit,  agreeable  to  the  fcripture  reprefen- 
tation  of  the  rough  he-goat,  marched  againft  them, 
with  a  defign  to  cut  them  oflf.  But  the  priefts  going 
out  to  meet  him  in  their  prieilly  garments,  when  he 
met  them.,  God  wonderfully  turned  his  heart  to  [pare 
them,  and  favour  diem,  much  as  he  did  the  heart  of 
Efau  when  he  met  Jacob. 

After  this,  one  of  the  kings  of  Eg\'pt,  a  fucceffor  of 
one  of  Alexander's  four  captains,  entertained  a  defign 
of  deflroying  the  nation  of  the  je^\'s  ;  but  was  remark- 
ably and  wonderfully  prevented  by  a  llronger  interpo- 
ficioii  of  heaven  for  their  prefervation. 

But  the  molf  wonderful  prefervation  of  them  all  in 
this  period  was  under  the  cruel  perfecution  of  Antio- 
chus  Epiphanes,  king  of  Syria,  and  fucceffor  of  ano- 
ther of  Alexander's  four  captains.  The  Jews  were  at 
that  time  fuhjetf  to  the  power  of  Antiochus  :  and  he 
being  enraged  againft  them,  long  ftrove  to  his  utmoft, 
uttc  rly  to  dellroy  them,  and  root  them  out ;  at  leaft  all 
of  them   that  ^vould  not  forfake  their  religion,    and 

worfliip 


Part  VI.    The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.     177 

woiThlp  his  idols  :  and  he  did  indeed  in  a  great  mea- 
fiire  vvafte  the  country,  and  depopulate  the  city  of  Je* 
rufalem ;  and  profaned  the  temple  by  fetting  up  his 
idols  in  fome  parts  of  it ;  and  perfecuted  the  people  with 
infatiable  cruelty ;  fo  that  we  have  no  account  of  any 
perfecution  like  his  before.  Many  of  the  particular 
circumftances  of  this  perfecution  would  be  very  affeft- 
ing,  if  I  had  time  to  infift  on  them.  This  cruel  perfe- 
cution began  about  an  hundred  and  feventy  years  before 
Chrifl.  It  is  much  fpoken  of  in  the  prophecy  of  Da- 
niel, as  you  may  fee,  Dan.  viii.  9. — 25.  xi.  31. — 38. 
Thefe  perfecutions  are  alfo  fpoken  of  in  the  New  Te- 
{lament,  as,  Heb.  xii.  36.  37.  38. 

Antiochus  intended  not  only  to  extirpate  the  Jewifh 
religion,  but,  as  far  as  in  him  lay,  the  very  nation ;  and 
particularly  laboured  to  the  utmoft  to  deftroy  all  copies 
of  the  law.  And  confidering  how  weak  they  were,  in 
comparifon  with  a  king  of  fuch  vaft  dominion,  the  pro- 
vidence of  God  appears  very  wonderful  in  defeating  his 
defign.  Many  times  tJie  Jewjj  feemed  to  be  on  the  very 
brink  of  ruin,  and  juil  ready  to  be  wholly  fwallowed 
up :  their  enemies  often  thought  themfelves  fure  of  ob- 
taining their  purpofe.  They  once  came  againft  the 
people  with  a  mighty  army,  and  with  a  defign  of  kill- 
ing all,  except  the  women  and  children,  and  of  felling 
thefe  for  flaves ;  and  they  were  fo  confident  of  obtain- 
ing their  purpofe,  and  others  of  purchafmg,  that  above 
a  thoufand  merchants  came  with  the  army,  with  mo- 
ney in  their  hands,  to  buy  the  flaves  that  fliould  be 
fold.  But  God  wonderfully  ftirred  up  and  alTifted  one 
Judas,  and  others  his  fucceffors,  that  were  called  the 
Maccabees,  who,  with  a  fmall  handful  in  comparifon, 
vanquiflied  their  enemies  time  after  time,  and  delivered 
their  nation  ;  which  was  foretold  by  Daniel,  xi.  32. 
Speaking  of  Antiochus's  perfecution,  he  fays,  *'  And 
*'  fuch  as  do  wickedly  againft  the  covenant,  fhall  he 
*'  corrupt  by  flatteries:  but  the  people  that  do  know 
**  their  God,  fliall  be  flrong,  and  do  exploits." 

God  afterwards  brought  this  Antiochus  to  a  fearful 
miferable  end,  by  a  loathfome  difeafe,  under  dreadful 
torments  of  body,  and  horrors  of  mind  ;  which  M'as 
foretold,  Dan.  xi,  4^.  in  thefe  words,  "  Yet  he  fliali 
*'  come  to  his  end,  and  none  fliall  help  him." 

U  After 


178  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   GF  Period  L 

After  his  death,  there  were  attempts  fiill  to  deftroy 
the  church  of  God ;  but  God  baffled  them  all. 

XVII.  The  next  thing  to  be  taken  notice  of  is  the 
deftru61ion  of  the  Grecian  empire,  and  fetting  up  of  the' 
Roman  empire.  This  was  the  fourth  overturning  of 
the  world  that  was  in  this  period.  And  though  it  was 
brought  to  pafs  more  gradually  than  the  fetting  up  of 
the  Grecian  empire,  yet  it  fer  exceeded  that,  and  was 
much  the  greateft  and  largefl:  temporal  monarchy  that 
ever  was  in  tire  world ;  fo  that  the  Roman  empire  was 
commonly  called  all  the  world;  as  it  is  in  Luke  ii.  1. 
*'  And  there  went  out  a  decree  from  before  Casfar  Au- 
*'  guftus,  that  all  the  world  fhould  be  taxed ;"  i.  e.  all 
the  Roman  empire. 

This  empire  is  fpoken  of  as  much  the  ilrongeft  and 
greateft  of  any  of  the  four :  Dan.  ii.  40.  "  And  the 
"  fourth  kingdom  fhall  be  ftrong  as  iron  :  forafmuch  as 
*'  iron  breaketh  in  pieces,  and  fubdueth  all  things  ;  and 
*'  as  iron  that  breaketh  all  thefe,  fhall  it  break  in  pieces, 
*'  and  bruife."     So  alfo  Dan.  vii.  7.  19.  23. 

The  time  that  the  Romans  iirft  conquered  and 
brought  under  the  land  of  Judea,  was  between  fixty 
and  feven ty  years  before  Chrift  was  born.  And  foon 
after  this,  the  Roman  empire  was  eftablifhcd  in  its 
greateft  extent ;  and  the  world  continued  fubjeft  to  this 
empire  henceforward  till  Chrift  came,  and  many  hun- 
dred years  afterwards. 

The  nations  of  the  world  being  united  in  one  mo- 
narchy when  Chrift  came,  and  when  the  apoftles  went 
forth  to  preach  the  gofpel,  did  greatly  prepare  the  way 
for  the  fpreading  of  the  gofpel,  and  the  fetting  up  of 
Chrift's  kingdom  in  the  world.  For  the  world  being 
thus  fubjeft  to  one  government,  it  opened  a  communi- 
cation from  nation  to  nation,  and  fo  opportunity  was 
given  for  the  more  fwiftly  propagating  the  gofpel 
through  the  world.  Thus  we  find  it  to  be  now  ;  as  if 
any  thing  prevails  in  the  Englifh  nation,  the  communi- 
cation is  quick  from  one  part  of  the  nation  to  another, 
throughout  all  parts  that  are  fubjeft  to  the  Englilh  go- 
vernment, much  eafier  and  quicker  than  to  other  na- 
tions, which  are  not  fubjeft  to  the  Englifh  govern- 
ment, and  have  little  to  do  with  them.  There  are  in- 
aiumerable  difficulties  in  travelling  through  different 

nations, 


Part  VI.    The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.     1;'^ 

nations,  that  are  under  different  independent  govern- 
ments, which  there  are  not  in  travelhng  through  dif.. 
ferent  parts  of  the  fame  reahn,  or  different  dominions 
of  the  fame  prince.  So  the  world  being  under  one  go- 
vernment, the  government  of  the  Romans,  in  Chnll's 
and  the  apoftles  times,  facihtated  the  apolUcs  travelhng, 
and  the  gofpel's  fpreading  through  the  world. 

XVIII.  About  the  fame  time  learning  and  philofophy 
were  rifen  to  their  greatefl  height  in  the  Heathen  world. 
The  time  of  learning's  flourifhing  in  the  Heathen  world 
was  principally  in  this  period.  Almoft  all  the  famous 
philofophers  that  we  have  an  account  of  among  the 
Heathen,  were  after  the  captivity  into  Babylon.  Al- 
moft all  the  wife  men  of  Greece  and  Rome  flourifhed 
in  this  time.  Thefe  philofophers,  many  of  them,  were 
indeed  men  of  great  temporal  wifdom  ;  and  that  which 
they  in  general  chiefly  profeffed  to  make  their  bufmefs, 
was  to  inquire  wherein  man's  chief  happinefs  lay,  and 
the  way  in  which  men  might  obtain  happinefs.  They 
feemed  earneflly  to  bufy  therafelves  in  this  inquiry,  and 
wrote  multitudes  of  books  about  it,  many  of  which  are 
ftill  extant.  And  they  were  exceedingly-divided  in  their 
opinions  about  it.  There  have  been  i-eckoned  up  fe- 
veral  hundreds  of  different  opinions  that  they  had  con- 
cerning it.  Thus  they  wearied  themfel  ves  in  vain,  wan- 
dered in  the  dark,  not  having  the  glorious  gofpel  to 
guide  them.  Qod  was  pleafed  to  fuffer  men  to  do  the 
utmofl  that  they  could  with  human  wifdom,  and  to  try 
the  extent  of  their  own  underflandings  to  find  out  the 
way  to  happinefs,  before  the  true  light  came  to  enlight- 
en the  world ;  before  he  fent  the  great  prophet  to  lead 
men  in  the  right  way  to  happinefs.  God  fivffered  thefe 
great  philofophers  to  try  what  they  could  do  for  fix 
hundred  years  together ;  and  then  it  proved,  by  the 
events  of  fo  long  a  time,  that  all  they  could  do  was  in 
vain  ;  the  w'orld  not  becoming  wifer,  better,  or  happier 
under  their  infliTiftions,  but  growing  more  and  more 
foolifh,  wicked,  and  miferable.  He  fuffered  their  wif- 
dom and  philofopliy  to  come  to  the  greateft  height  be- 
fore Chrift  came,  that  it  might  be  fcen  how  far  reafcn 
and  philofophy  could  go  in  their  highefl  afcent,  that 
the  neceffity  of  a  divine  teacher  might  appear  before, 
thrift  came.  And  God  was  pleafed  to  make  foolif'? 
U  2  ^i^ 


/ 


l8o  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  L 

the  wifdom  of  this  world,  to  fhew  men  the  folly  of  their 
bell  wifdom,  by  the  doftrines  of  his  glorious  gofpel 
which  were  above  the  reach  of  all  their  philofophy. 
See  1  Cor.  i.  ig.  20.  21. 

'  And  after  God  had  fhewed  the  vanity  of  human 
learning,  when  fet  up  in  the  room  of  the  gofpel,  God 
was  pleafed  to  make  it  fubfervient  to  the  purpofes  of 
ChrilVs  kingdom,  as  an  handmaid  to  divine  revelation; 
and  fo  die  prevailing  of  learning  in  the  world  before 
Chrift  came,  made  way  for  his  coming  both  thefe  ways, 
viz.  as  thereby  the  vanity  of  human  wifdom  was  fhown, 
and  the  neceffity  of  the  gofpel  appeared  ;  and  alfo  as 
hereby  an  handmaid  was  prepared  to  the  gofpel :  for  fo 
it  was  made  ufe  of  in  the  apoftle  Paul,  who  was  famed 
for  his  much  learning,  as  you  m.ay  fee  Afts  xxvi.  24. 
and  was  fkilled  not  only  in  the  learning  of  the  Jews, 
but  alfo  of  the  philofophers  ;  and  improved  it  to  the 
pui-pofes  of  the  gofpel ;  as  you  m.ay  fee  he  did  in  difpu- 
ting  with  the  philofophers  at  Athens,  Afts  xvii.  22.  &:c. 
He  by  his  learning  knew  how  to  accommodate  himfelf 
in  his  difcourfes  to  learned  m.en,  as  appears  by  this  dif- 
courfe  of  his ;  and  he  knew  well  how  to  improve  what 
he  had  read  in  their  writings ;  and  he  here  cites  their 
own  poets.  And  now  Dionyfius,  that  was  a  philofo- 
pher,  was  converted  by  him,  and,  as  eccleriaflical  hi- 
flory  gives  us  an  account,  made  a  great  inftrument  of 
promoting  the  gofpel.  And  there  were  many  others  in 
that  and  the  following  ages,  who  were  eminently  ufeful 
by  their  human  learning  in  promoting  the  interefts  of 
Chrift 's  kingdom. 

XIX.  Jufl;  before  Chrift  was  born,  the  P.oman  em- 
pire was  r^ifed  10  its  greateft  height,  and  alfo  fettled  in 
peace.  About  four  and  twenty  yearS  befoif  Chrift  was 
born,  Auguftus  Casfar,  the  firft  Roman  emperor,  be- 
gan to  rule  as  emperor  of  the  world.  Till  then  the 
Roman  empire  had  of  a  long  time  been  a  common- 
wealth under  the  government  of , the  fenate.:  but  then 
^  it  became  an  abfolute  monarchy.^  This  Auguftus  Cas- 
far,  as  :he  was  the^firft;  fo  he  was  the  greateft  of  all  the 
Roman  emperors :  he  reigned  in  the  greateft  glory. — 
Thus  the  power  of  the  Heathen  world,  which  was  Sa^ 
tan's  vifibic  kingdom,  was  raifed  to  its  greateft  height, 
iiiLcr  it  had  been  rlfing  higber  and  higher,  and  ftrength- 

euing 


Part  VI.    Th  E  Wo  R  K  o  F  REDEMPTION.      1 8 1 

ening  itfelf  more  and  more  from  the  days  of  Solomon 
to  this  day,  which  was  about  a  thoufand years.  Now  it 
appeared  at  a  greater  height  than  ever  it  appeared  from 
the  firft  beginning  of  Satan's  Heathenifh  kingdom, 
which  was  probably  about  the  time  of  the  building  of 
Babel.  Now  the  Heathen  world  was  in  its  greatell 
gloiy  for  firength,  wealth,  and  learning. 

God  did  two  things  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrifl's 
coming,  wherein  he  took,  a  contrary  method  from  tliat 
>\-hich  human  wifdom  would  have  taken.  He  brought 
Kis  own  vifible  people  very  low,  and  made  them  weak; 
but  the  Heathen,  that  w^ere  his  enemies,  he  exalted  to 
the  greateft  height,  for  the  more  glorious  triumph  of 
the  crofs  of  Chrift.  With  a  fmall  number  in  their 
greateft  weaknefs,  he  conquered  his  enemies  in  their 
greateft  glory.  Thus  Chrift  triumphed  over  principa- 
lities and  powers  in  his  crofs. 

Auguftus  Caefar  had  been  for  many  years  eftablifh^ 
ing  the  ftate  of  the  Roman  empire,  fubduing  his  ene- 
mies in  one  part  and  another,  till  the  vei-y  year  that 
Chrift  was  born  ;  when  all  his  enemies  being  fubdued, 
and  his  dominion  over  the  world  feemed  to  be  fettled  in 
its  greateft  gloiy.  All  was  eftablifhed  in  peace ;  in  to- 
ken whereof  the  Romans  fhut  up  the  temple  of  Janus, 
which  was  an  eftablifhed  fymbol  among  them  of  there 
being  univerfal  peace  throughout  the  Roman  empire. 
And  this  univerfal  peace,  which  was  begun  that  year 
that  Chrift  was  born,  and  lafted  tvv^elve  years,  till  the 
year  that  Chrift  difputed  with  doftors  in  the  temple. 

Thus  the  world,  after  it  had  been,  as  it  were,  in  a 
continual  convulfion  for  fo  many  hundred  years  toge- 
ther, like  the  four  winds  ftriving  together  on  the  tu- 
multuous raging  ocean,  whence  arofe  thofe  four  great 
monarchies,  being  now  eftablifhed  in  the  greateft  height 
cf  the  fourth  and  laft  monarchy,  and  fettled  in  quiet- 
nefs  ;  now  all  things  are  ready  for  the  birth  of  Chrift. 
This  remarkable  univerfal  peace,  after  fo  manv  ages  of 
tumult  and  war,  was  a  fit  prelude  for  the  ufliering  of 
the  glorious  prince  of  peace  into  the  world. 

Thus  I  have  gone  through  the  firft  grand  period  of 
the  whole  fpace  between  the  fall  of  man  and  the  end  of 
the  world,  viz,  that  from  the  fall  to  tl:e  time  of  the  in- 
carnation 


i82  ,   A  HISTORY  OF  PeriodL 

carnation  of  Chrift ;  and  have  fhown  the  truth  of  the 
lirft  proportion,  viz.  That  frpm  the  fall  of  man  to  the 
incarnation  of  Chrifly  God  was  doing  thofe  things  that 
.were  preparatory  to  Chrift's  coming,  ar^d  were  forerun- 
ners of  it. 

IMPROVEMENT. 


BEFORE  I  proceed  to  the  next  propofition,  I  would 
make  fome  few  remarks,  by  way  of  improvement, 
upon  what  has  been  faid  under  this. 

I.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  ftrongly  argue, 
that  Jefus  of  Nazareth  is  indeed  the  Son  of  God,  and 
the  Saviour  of  the  world ;  and  fo  that  the  Chriftian  re- 
ligion is  the  tnae  religion,  feeing  that  Chrift  is  the  very 
perfon  fo  evidently  pointed  at,  in  all  the  great  difpen- 
fations  of  divine  providence  from  the  very  fall  of  man, 
and  was  fo  undoubtedly  in  fo  many  inftances  foretold 
from  age  to  age,  and  {hadowed  forth  in  a  vaft  variety  of 
types  and  figures.  If  we  ferioufly  confider  the  courfe 
of  things  from  the  beginning,  and  obferve  the  motions 
of  all  the  great  Vv^heels  of  providence  from  one  age  to 
another,  we  fliall  difcern  that  they  all  tend  hither. 
They  are  all  as  fo  many  lines,  whofe  courfe,  if  it  be 
obferved  and  accurately  followed,  it  will  be  found  that 
every  one  centres  here.  It  is  fo  very  plain  in  many 
things,  that  it  would  argue  fmpidity  to  deny  it.  Thi? 
tliercfore  is  undeniable,  that  this  perfon  is  a  divine 
perfon  fcnt  from  God,  that  came  into  the  world  with 
iiis  commiflion  and  authority,  to  do  his  work,  and  to 
declare  his  mind.  The  great  governor  of  the  world, 
in  all  his  great  works  before  and  fmce  the  flood,  to 
jews  and  Gentiles,  down  to  the  time  of  Chrift's  birth, 
has  "declared  it.  It  cannot  be  any  vain  imagination, 
but  a  plain  and  evident  truth,  that  that  perfon  that  was 
born  at  Bethlehem,  and  dwelt  at  Nazareth,  and  at  Ca- 
pernaum, and  was  crucified  without  the  gates  of  Jeru- 
ialem,  mud  be  the  great  Mefllah,  or  anointed  of  God. 
And  blcffed  are  all  they  that  believe  la,  and  confefs  him,, 
iind  miferable  are  all  that  deny  him.  This  fliows  the 
imreafonablcncfs  of  the  DeiUs,  who  deny  revealed  re^ 

Ijgion, 


Impr.       The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.       183 

ligioii,  and  of  the  Jews,  who  deny  that  this  Jefus  is  the 
Mefliah  foretold  and  promifed  to  their  fathers. 

Here  it  may  be  fome  perfons  may  be  ready  to  objeft, 
and  fay,  That  it  may  be,  fome  fubtle,  cunning  men  con- 
trived this  hiftory,  and  thefe  prophecies,  fo  that  they 
fliould  all  point  to  Jefus  Chrill  on  purpofe  to  confirm 
it,  that  he  is  the  MefTiah.  To  fuch  it  may  be  replied, 
How  could  fuch  a  thing  be  contrived  by  cunning  men 
to  point  to  Jefus  Chrift,  long  before  he  ever  was  born  ? 
How  could  they  know  that  ever  any  fuch  perfon  would 
be  born  ?  And  how  could  their  craft  and  fubtilty  help 
them  to  forefee  and  point  at  an  event  that  was  to  come 
to  pafs  many  ages  afterwards  ?  for  no  faft  can  be  more 
evident  than  that  the  Jews  had  thofe  writings  long  be- 
fore Chrift  was  born  ;  as  they  have  them  ftill  in  great 
veneration^  wherever  they  are,  in  all  their  difperfions 
through  the  v/orld  ;  and  they  would  never  have  receiv- 
ed fuch  a  contrivance  from  Chiiflian's,  to  point  to 
and  confirm  Jefus  to  be  the  Mefhah,  whom  they  always 
denied  to  be  the  Mefhah ;  and  much  lefs  would  thev 
have  been  made  to  believe  that  they  always  had  had 
thofe  books  in  their  hands,  when  they  were  firft  made 
and  impofed  upon  them. 

II.  What  has  been  faid,  affords  a  ftrong  argument 
for  the  divine  authority  of  the  books  of  the  Old  Tef- 
tament,  from  that  admirable  harmony  there  is  in  them, 
whereby  they  all  point  to  the  fame  thuig.  For  we  may 
fee  by  what  has  been  faid,  how  all  the  parts  of  the  Old 
Teftament,  though  written  by  fo  many  different  penmen, 
and  in  ages  diftant  one  from  another,  do  all  harmonize 
one  with  another ;  all  agree  in  one,  and  all  centre  in 
the  fame  thing,  and  that  a  future  thing;  an  event 
which  it  was  impofTible  any  one  of  them  fhould  know- 
but  by  divine  revelation,  even  the  future  coming  of 
Chrift.  This  is  moft  evident  and  manifeft  in  them,  zs 
appears  by  what  has  been  faid. 

Now,  if  the  Old  Teftament  wasnotinfpircd  by  God, 
xvhat  account  can  be  given  of  fuch  an  agreement  ?  for 
if  thefe  books  were  only  human  writings,  written  with- 
out any  divine  direction,  then  none  of  thefe  penmen 
knew  that  there  would  come  fuch  a  perfon  as  Jefus 
Chrift  into  the  world ;  his  coming  was  only  a  mere  fig- 
ment of  their  own  brain :  and  if  io.  bow  happened  4t, 

that: 


i84  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Period  L 

that  this  figment  of  tl.eirs  came  to  pafs  ?  How  came 
a  vain  imaginalion  of  theirs,  which  they  foretold 
without  any  manner  of  ground  for  their  prediOiori,  to 
be  exaftly  lulfilled  ?  and  efpecially  how  did  they  come 
all  to  agree  in  it ;  all  pointing  exaftly  to  the  fame  thing, 
though  many  of  them  lived  lo  many  hundred  years  dif- 
tant  one  from  another  ? 

This  admirable  confent  and  agreeiPiCnt  in  a  future 
event,  is  therefore  a  clear  and  certain  evidence  of  the 
divine  authority  of  thofe  writings. 

III.  Hence  we  may  learn  what  a  weak  and  ignorant 
objection  it  is  thai  fome  make  againft  fonie  parts  of  the 
Old  Tellament's  being  the  word  of  God,  that  they  con- 
lift  fo  much  of  hifloiies  of  the  wars  and  civil  tranfac- 
tions  of  (he  kings  and  people  of  the  nation  of  the 
Jews.  Some  fay,  we  find  here  among  the  books  of  a 
particular  nation,  hiilories  which  they  kept  of  the  flate 
of  their  nation,  from  one  age  to  another,  hiflories  of 
their  kings  and  rulers,  hiftories  of  their  wars  with  the 
neighbouring  nations,  and  hiflories  of  the  changes  that 
happened  from  time  to  time  in  their  If  ate  and  govern- 
ment :  and  fo  w^e  find  that  other  nations  ufed  to  keep 
hiilories  of  their  public  affairs,  as  well  as  they ;  and 
why  then  fliould  we  think  that  thefe  hiflories  which  the 
Jews  kept,  are  the  word  of  God,  more  than  thofe  of 
other  people  ?  But  what  has  been  faid,  fhows  the  folly 
and  vanity  of  fuch  an  objeftion.  For  hereby  it  appears 
that  the  cafe  of  thefe  hiflories  is  very  different  from  that 
of  all  other  hiflories.  This  hiflory  alone  gives  us  an 
account  of  the  firfl  original  of  all  things ;  and  this  hif- 
tory  alone  deduces  things  down  in  a  wonderful  feries 
from  that  original,  giving  an  idea  of  the  grand  fcheme 
of  divine  providence,  as  tending  to  its  great  end.  And 
together  with  the  doftrines  and  prophecies  contained  in 
it,  the  farrie  book  gives  a  view  of  the  whole  feries  of  the 
great  events  of  divine  providence,  from  the  firfl  ori- 
ginal to  the  lafl  end  and  confumimation  of  all  things, 
giving  an  excellent  and  glorious  account  of  the  wife 
and  holy  defigns  of  the  governor  of  the  world  in  all. 

No  com.mon  hiflory  has  fuch  penmen  as  this  hiflory, 
M'hich  was  all  written  by  men  who  came  with  evident 
fni/is  and  teilimonies  of  their  being  prophets  of  the  moft 
high  God,  immediately  infpircd. 

And 


Impr.       The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.        iS 


o 


And  the  hiftories  that  were  written,  as  we  have  feen 
from  what  has  been  laid  under  this  propofition,  do  all 
contain  thofe  great  events  of  providence,  by  which  it 
appears  how  God  has  been  carrying  on  the  glorious 
divine  work  of  redemption  from  age  to  age.  Though 
they  are  hillories,  yet  they  are  no  lefs  full  of  divine  in- 
ftriiftion,  and  thofe  things  that  fhow  forth  Chrift,  and 
his  glorious  gofpel,  than  other  parts  of  the  holy  fcrip- 
turcs  which  are  not  hiftorical. 

To  ob']ei\  againft  a  book's  being  divine,  merely  be- 
caufe  it  is  hifiorical,  is  a  poor  objeclion  ;  juft  as  if  that 
could  not  be  the  word  of  God  which  gives  an  account 
of  \v^hat  is  part  ;  or  as  though  it  were  not  reafonable  to 
fuppofe,  that  God,  in  a  revelation  he  fhould  give  man- 
kind, would  give  us  any  relation  of  the  difpenfations 
of  his  own  providence.  If  it  be  fo,  it  muft  be  becaufe 
his  works  are  not  worthy  to  be  related  ;  it  muft  bebe- 
caut'e  the  fcheme  of  his  governmcn%  and  feries  of  his 
difoenfations  towards  his  church,  and  towards  the  world 
that  he  has  made,  whereby  he  has  ordered  and  difpofed 
it  from  age  to  age,  is  not  worthy  that  any  record  fliould 
be  kept  of  it. 

The  obje6Hon  that  is  made,  That  it  is  a  commion 
thing  for  nations  and  kingdoms  to  write  hiftories  and 
keep  records  of  their  wars,  and  the  revolutions  that 
come  to  pafs  in  their  territories,  is  fo  far  from  being  a 
weighty  objeftion  againft  the  hiftorical  part  of  fcrip- 
ture,  as  though  it  were  not  the  word  of  God,  that  it 
is  a  ftrong  argument  in  favour  of  it.  For  if  reafon  and 
the  light  of  nature  teaches  all  civilized  nations  to  keep 
records  of  the  events  of  their  human  government,  and 
the  feries  of  their  adminiftrations,  and  to  publilh  hifto- 
ries for  the  information  of  others  ;  how  much  more 
may  we  expeft  that  God  would  give  the  world  a  record 
of  the  difpenfations  of  his  divine  government,  which 
doubtlefs  is  infinitely  more  worthy  of  an  hiftory  for  our 
information  ?  If  wife  kings  have  taken  care  that  there 
(hould  be  good  hiftories  written  of  the  nations  over 
which  thev  ha\'e  reigned,  (liall  we  think  it  incredible, 
that  Jefus  Chrift  ftiould  take  care  that  his  church,  which 
is  his  nation,  his  peculiar  people,  (hould  have  in  their 
hands  a  certain  infallible  hiftoiy  of  their  nation,  and  o£ 
his  governm.ent  of  them  ? 

X  If 


i86  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  L 

If  it  had  not  been  for  the  hiftory  of  the  Old  Tefla- 
ment,  how  wofulJy  fhould  we  have  been  left  in  the 
dark  about  many  things  which  the  church  of  God 
needs  to  know !  How  ignorant  fhould  we  have  been 
of  God's  dealings  towards  mankind,  and  towards  his 
church,  from  the  beginning !  And  we  would  have  been 
.wholly  in  the-  dark  about  the  creation  of  the  world,  the 
fall  of  man,  the  firft  rife  and  continued  progrefs  of  the 
difpenfations  of  grace  towards  fallen  mankind!  And  we 
fhould  have  known  nothing  how  God  at  firft  fet  up  a 
church  in  the  world,  and  how  it  was  preferved  ;  after 
what  manner  he  governed  it  from  the  beginning ;  how 
the  light  of  the  gofpel  firft  began  to  dawn  in  the  world ; 
how  it  increafed,  and  how  things  were  preparing  for 
the  coming  of  Chrift. 

If  we  are  Chriftians,  we  belong  to  that  building  of 
God  that  has  been  the  fubjeft  of  our  difcourfe  from 
this  text  :  but  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  hiftoiy  of  the 
Old  Teftament,  we  Ihould  never  have  known  what  was 
the  firft  occafion  of  God's  going  about  this  building, 
and  how  the  foundation  of  it  was  laid  at  firft,  and  how 
it  has  gone  on  from  the  beginning.  The  times  of  the 
hiftory  of  the  Old  Teftament  are  moftly  times  that  no 
other  hiftory  reaches  up  to  ;  and  therefore,  if  God  had 
nat  taken  care  to  give  and  preferve  an  account  of  thefe 
things  for  us,  we  ftiould  have  been  wholly  without 
them. 

Thofe  that  obje^l  againft  the  authority  of  the  Old 
Teftament  hiftory  of  the  nation  of  the  Jews,  m.ay  as 
well  make  it  an  objection  againft  Mofcs's  account  of  the 
creation  that  it  is  hiftorical  ;  for,  in  the  other,  we  have 
an  hiftory  of  a  work  no  lefs  important,  viz.  the  work 
of  redemption.  Yea,  this  is  a  far  greater  and  more 
glorious  v.'Ork,  as  we  obferved  before ;  that  if  it  be  in- 
quired which  of  the  two  works,  the  work  of  creation, 
or  the  work  of  providence,  is  greateft  ?  It  muft  be  an- 
fwered,  the  work  of  providence ;  but  the  work  of  re- 
demption is  the  greateft  of  the  works  of  providence. 

And  let  thofe  who  make  this  objeftion  confider  what 
part  of  the  Old  Teftament  hiftory  can  be  fpared,  with- 
out making  a  great  breach  in  that  thread  or  feries  of 
events  by  which  this  glorious  work  has  been  carried 
oil, — This  leads  me  to  obferve, 

IV.  That, 


Impr.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       187 

IV.  That,  from  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee 
much  of  the  wnfdom  of  God  in  the  compofition  of  the 
fcriptures  of  the  Oid  Teftament,  i.  e.  in  the  parts  of 
which  it  confifls.  By  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee 
that  God  hath  wifely  given  us  fuch  revelations  in  the 
Old  Teftament  as  we  needed.  Let  us  briefly  take  a 
view  of  the  feveral  parts  of  it,  and  of  the  need  there 
was  of  them. 

Thus  it  was  neceffary  that  we  fliould  have  fome  ac- 
count of  the  creation  of  the  world,  and  of  our  firfl  pa- 
rents, and  their  primitive  ftate,  and  of  the  fall,  and 
a  brief  account  of  the  old  world,  and  of  the  degenera- 
cy of  it,  and  of  the  univerfal  deluge,  and  fome  account 
of  the  origin  of  nations  after  this  deftruotion  of  man- 
kind. 

It  feems  neceffary  that  there  fhculd  be  fome  account 
of  the  fuccefTion  of  the  church  af  God  from  the  begin- 
ning :  an;i  feeing  God  fuffered  all  the  world  to  dege- 
nerate, and  only  took  one  nation  to  be  his  people,  to 
preferve  the  true  worfhip  and  religion  till  the  Saviour 
of  the  world  Ihould  come,  that  in  them  the  world: 
might  gradually  be  prepared  for  that  great  light,  and. 
thofe  Vv^onderful  things  that  he  was  to  be  the  author  of, 
and  that  they  might  be  a  typical  nation,  and  that  in 
them  God  might  fhadow  forth  and  teach,  as  under  a 
veil,  all  future  glorious  things  of  the  gofpel ;  it  was 
therefore  neceJOTary  that  we  Ihould  have  fome  account 
of  this  thing,  how  it  was  firft  done  by  the  calling  of 
Abraham,  and  by  their  being  I  ond-flaves  in  Egypt,  and. 
how  they  were  brought  to  Canaan,  It  \v'as  neceffary 
that  we  fliould  have  fome  account  of  the  revelation 
which  God  made  of  himfelf  to  that  people,  in  giving 
their  law,  and  in  the  appointment  of  their  typical  wor- 
fhip, and  thofe  things  wherein  the  gofpel  is  veiled,  and 
of  the  forming  of  that  people,  both  as  to  their  civil  and 
ecclefiaflical  itate. 

It  feems  exceeding  neceffary  that  we  fhould  have, 
fome  account  of  their  being  a6lually  brought  to  Ca- 
naan, the  country  that  was  their  promifed  land^  and 
where  they  always  dwelt.  It  feems  very  neceffary  that 
we  fhould  have  an  hiflory  of  the  fiiccc*' ons  of  the. 
church  of  Ifrael,  and  of  thofe  providences  of  God  to^. 
\yards  them,  which  w^ere  mofl  confiderable  and  fullefii; 
X  2  Q^ 


i88  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  I. 

of  gofpel-myflery.  It  feems  necefTary  that  we  fliould 
have  (orre  account  of  the  higheft  promifed  external 
glory  of  that  nation  under  David  and  Solomon,  and 
that  we  fhould  have  a  very  particular  account  of  Da- 
vid, whofe  hiftory  is  fo  full  of  the  gofpel  and  fo  ne- 
cefTary in  order  to  introduce  the  gofpel  into  the  world, 
and  in  whom  began  the  race  of  their  kings  ;  and  that 
we  fhould  have  fome  account  of  the  building  of  the 
temple,  which  was  alfo  fo  full  of  gofpel-myflery. 

And  it  is  a  matter  of  great  confequence,  that  we 
fhould  have  fome  account  of  Ifrael's  dividing  from  Ju- 
dah,  and  of  the  ten  tribes  captivity  and  utter  rejeftion, 
and  a  brief  account  why,  and  therefore  a  brief  hiflory 
of  them  till  that  time.  It  is  necefTary  that  we  fhould 
have  an  account  of  the  fuccefTion  of  the  kings  of  jiidah, 
and  of  the  church,  till  their  captivity  into  Babylon  ; 
and  that  we  fiiould  have  fome  account  of  their  return 
from  their  captivity,  and  re-fettlement  in  their  own 
land,  and  of  the  origin  of  the  laft  Hate  that  the  church 
was  in  before  Chrili  cam.e. 

A  little  CGnfideraiiori  will  convince  every  one,  that 
all  thefe  things  were  necelTary,  and  that  none  of  them 
could  be  fpared  ;  and  in  the  general,  that  it  was  necef- 
Tary that  we  fhould  have  an  hiilory  of  God's  church  tilj 
Tuch  times  as  are  within  the  reach  of  human  liiflories  ; 
and- it  was  of  vad  importance  that  we  fhould  have  an 
infpired  hiflory  of  thofe  times  of  the  Jewifh  church, 
wherein  there  wt.s  kept  up  a  more  extraordinary  inter- 
courfe  between  God  and  them,  and  while  he  ufed  to 
dwell  among  them  as  it  were  vifibly,  revealing  himifelf 
by  the  Shcchina,  by  Urira  and  Thummim,  and  bv  pro- 
phecy, and  fo  more  immediately  to  crcier  their  affairs. 
And  it  was  neceiTary  that  we  fhould  have  fome  account 
of  the  great  difyenfations  of  God  in  prophecy,  which 
Avere  to  be  ai[er  the  finifliing  of  infpired  hiflory ;  and 
{o  it  was  exceeding  fuitable  and  needful  that  there 
fhould  be  a  number  of  prophets  railed  v>^ho  fhould 
fortcll  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  nature 
and  glory  of  his  kingdom,  to  be  as  fo  many  harbingers 
to  make  way  for  him,  and  that  their  prophecies  fliould 
remain  iivjie  church. 

It  Was  alfo  a  matter  of  great  confequence  that  the 
church  lliould  have  a  book  of  divine  fongs  given  by  ia- 

fiaralion 


IiHpF.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       189 

fpiratlon  from  God,  wherein  there  fhould  be  a  Hvely 
reprefentation  of  the  true  fpirit  of  devotion,  ot  faith, 
hope,  and  divine  love,  joy,  refignation,  humiUty,  obe- 
dience, repentance,  &.c.  and  alfo  that  we  fhould  have 
fi-om  God  fuch  books  of  moral  inftrufclions  as  we  have 
in  Proverbs  and  Ecclefiaftes,  relating  to  the  affairs  and 
fiate  of  mankind,  and  tlie  concerns  of  human  life,  con- 
taining rules  of  tniewifdom  and  prudence  for  our  con- 
du6t  in  allcircumflanccs  ;  and  that  we  fhould  have  par- 
ticularly a  fong  reprefenting  the  great  love  between 
Chrift  and  his  fpouf'e  the  church,  particularly  adapted 
to  the  difpofition  and  holy  affefiionsof  a  true  Chriftian 
foul  towards  Chrill,  and  reprefenting  his  grace  and 
marvellous  love  to,  and  delight  in  his  people;  as  we 
have  in  Solomon's  Song ;  and  efpecially  that  we  fhould 
have  a  book  to  teach  us  how  to  conduft  ourfelves  un- 
der afFiifiion,  feeing  the  church  of  God  here,  is  in  a 
militant  flate,  and  God's  people  do,  through  much  tri- 
bulation, enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven ;  and  the 
church  is  for  fo  long  a  time  under  trouble,  and  meets 
with  fuch  exceedingly  fiery  trials,  and  extreme  fufPer- 
ings,  before  her  time  of  peace  and  refl  in  the  latter  ages 
of  the  world  fhall  come  :  therefore  God  has  given  us 
a  book  mofl  proper  in  thefe  circumflances,  even  the 
book  of  Job,  written  upon  occafion  of  the  affli8ions  of 
a  particular  faint,  and  was  probably  at  firft  given  to  the 
church  in  Egypt  under  her  afFii6tions  there ;  and  is 
made  uk  of  by  the  apoflle  to  comfort  Chriffians  under 
perlecutions,  James  v.  it.  "Ye  have  heard  of  the  pa- 
*•  tience  of  Job,  and  have  feen  the  end  of  the  Lord : 
"  that  the  Lord  is  very  pitiful  and  of  tender  mercy," 

God  was  aifo  pleafed,  in  this  book  of  Job,  to  give 
fome  view  of  the  ancient  divinity  before  the  giving  of 
the  law. 

Thus,  from  this  brief  review,  I  think  it  appears,  that 
every  part  of  the  fcriptures  of  the  Old  Teflament  is 
very  ufeful  and  neceffary,  and  no  part  of  it  can  be  fpa- 
red,  without  lofs  to  the  church.  And  therefore,  as  I 
faid,  the  wifdom  of  God  is  confpicuous  in  ordering 
that  the  fcriptures  of  the  Old  Teflament  fhould  confill 
of  thofevery  hooks  of  which  they  do  confifl. 

Before  I  difmifs  this  particular,  I  w^ould  add  that  it 
is  very  obfervabie,  that  the  hiftory  cf  the  Old  Tefla- 

meut 


ipo  A  HISTORY    o?  Period  I. 

ment  is  large  and  particulzir  where  the  great  affair  of 
redemption  required  it ;  as  where  there  was  mofl  done 
towards  this  work,  and  mofl  to  typify  Chrift,  and  to 
prepare  the  way  for  him.  Thus  it  is  very  large  and 
particular  in  the  hiftory  of  Abraham  and  the  other  pa- 
triarchs ;  but  very  fhort  in.  the  account  we  have  of  the 
time  v»^hich  the  children  of  Ifrael  fpent  in  Egypt.  So, 
again  it  is  large  in  the  account  of  the  redemption  out 
of  Egypt,  and  the  firft  fettling  of  the  affairs  of  the  Jew- 
i(h  church  and  nation  in  Mofes  and  Jofhua's  time ;  but 
inuch  Ihorter  in  the  account  of  the  times  of  the  Judges^ 
So  again  it  is  large  and  particular  in  the  account  of 
David's  and  Solomon's  times,  and  then  very  fhort  in 
the  hiflory  of  the  enfuing  reigns.  Thus  the  accounts 
are  large  or  fliort,  jufl  as  there  is  more  oi;  lefs  of  the 
affair  of  redemption  to  be  feen  in  them. 

V.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  that  Chrift 
and  his.  redemption  are  the  great  fubjeft  of  the  v/hole 
Bible.     Concerning  the  New  Teflament,  the  matter 
is  plain ;  and  by  what  has  been  faid  on  this  fubjeft  hi- 
thert03  it  appears  to  be  fo  alfo  v/ith  refpecf  to  the  Old 
Teflament.   Chrifl  and  his  redemption  is  the  great  fub- 
jecl  of  the  prophecies  of  the  Old  Teflament,  as  has 
been  fhown.     It  has  alfo  been  fhowm,  that  he  is  the 
great  fubjccl  of  the  fongs  of  the  Old  Teflament ;  and 
the  moral  rules  and  precepts  are  all  given  in.  fubordin^- 
tion  to  him.     And  Chrifl  and  his  redemption  are  alfo 
the  great  fubjeft  of  the  hiftory  of  the  Old  Teflament 
from  the  beginning  all  along ;  and  even  the  hiftory  of 
the  creation  is  brought  in  as  an  introduftion  to  the  hif- 
tory at  redemption  that  immediately  follows  it.     The 
whole   book,  both  Old.  Teftament  and  New,  is  filled 
up  with  the  Gofpel ;  only  with  this  difference,  that  the 
Old  Teftament  contains  the  gofpel  under  a  veil,  but  the 
New  contains  it  unveiled,  fo  that  we  may  fee  the  glory 
of  the  Lord  with  open  face. 

VI.  By  vvhat  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  the  ufeful- 
nefs  and  excellency  of  the  Old  Teflament.  Some  are 
ready  to  look  on  the  Old  Teftament  as  being  as  it  were 
out  of  date,  and  as  if  we  in  thefe  days  of  the  gofpel 
have  but  little  to  do  with  it ;  which  is  a  very  great  mif- 
take,  arifing  from  want  of  obferving  the  nature  and  de- 
figa  of  the  Old  Teflament,  which,  if  it  were  obfen'ed, 

would 


Impr.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       igt 

would  appear  full  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrlft,  and  would 
in  an  excellent  manner  illuftrate  and  confirm  the  glo- 
rious doftrincs  and  promifes  of  the  New  Tellament. 
Thofe  parts  of  the  Old  Tedament  which  are  commonly- 
looked  upon  as  containing  the  leaft  divine  inftruftion, 
are  as  it  were  mines  and  treafures  of  gofpel  knowledge ; 
and  the  rcafon  why  they  are  thought  to  contain  fo  little 
is,  becaufe  perfons  do  but  fuperficially  read  them.  The 
treafures  which  are  hid  undcineaih  are  not  obferved. 
They  only  look  on  the  top  of  the  ground,  and  fo  fud- 
denly  pafs  a  judgment  that  there  is  nothing  there. 
But  they  never  dig  into  the  mine ;  if  they  did,  they 
would  find  it  richly  ftored  with  filver  and  gold,  and 
would  be  abundantly  requited  for  their  pains. 

What  has  been  faid,  may  fliow  us  what  a  precious 
treafure  God  has  committed  into  our  hands,  in  that  he 
has  given  us  the  Bible.  How  little  do  moft  perfons  con- 
fider  how  much  they  enjoy,  in  that  thev  have  the  pof- 
feffion  of  that  holy  book  the  Bible,  Avhich  they  have  in 
their  hands,  and  may  converfe  with  it  as  they  pleafe. 
What  an  excellent  book  is  this,  and  how  far  exceeding 
all  human  writings,  that  reveals  God  tons,  and  gives  us 
a  view  of  the  grand  defign  and  glorious  fchem.e  of  pro- 
vidence from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  either  in  hif- 
tory  or  prophecy  ;  that  reveals  the  great  Redeemer  and 
his  glorious  redemption,  and  the  various  fleps  by  which 
God  accomplifhes  it  from  the  fird  foundation  to  the 
top-ftone  !  Shall  we  prize  an  hiflor)'  which  gives  us  a 
clear  account  of  fomxC  great  earthly  prince  or  mighty 
warrior,  as  of  Alexander  the  Great,  or  Julius  Caefar, 
or  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  ?  and  fhall  we  not  prize 
the  hiftory  that  God  gives  us  of  tlie  glorious  kingdom 
of  his  Son  Jefus  Chrift,  the  Prince  and  Saviour,  and 
of  the  wars  and  other  crreat  tranfaclions  of  that  Kincc 
of  kings,  and  Lord  of  armies,  the  Lord  mighty  in  bat- 
tle ?  the  hillory  of  the  things  which  he  has  wrought 
for  the  redemption  of  his  chofen  people  ? 

VIL  What  has  been  faid,  may  make  us  fenfiblehow 
much  moft  perfons  are  to  blame  for  their  inattentive, 
unobfervant  way  of  reading  the  fcriptures.  Ho^v  much. 
do  the  fcriptures  contain,  if  it  were  but  obferved  ? 
The  Bible  is  the  moft  com])rehenrive  book  in  the  world. 
3ut  what  will  all  this  fignify  to  us,  if  wc  read  it  with- 
out 


192  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  I. 

out  obferving  wliat  is  the  arift  of  the  Holy  Ghofl  in  it? 
The  Pfdlmilt,  Plal.  cxix.  18.  begs  of  God,  "  That  he 
*'  would  enlighten  his  eyes  that  he  might  behold  won- 
"  dious  things  out  of  his  law."  The  fcriptures  are  full 
of  wondrous  things.  Thofe  hiftories  which  are  com- 
monly read  as  if  they  were  only  hiftories  of  the  pri- 
vate concerns  oi  luch  and  fueli  particular  perfons,  fuch 
as  the  hiftories  of  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  and  Jo- 
feph,  and  the  hiltory  of  Ruih,  and  the  hillories  of  par- 
ticular lawgivers  and  princes,  as  the  hiflory  of  Jolhua 
and  the  Judges,  and  David,  and  the  Ifraelitifn  princes^ 
are  accounts  ot  vaftly  greater  things,  things  of  greater 
importance,  and  more  extenfive  concernment  than  they 
that  read  them  are  commonly  aware  of. 

The  hillories  of  fcripture  are  commonly  read  as  if 
they  were  llories  only  written  to  entertain  mens  fan- 
cies, and  to  while  away  their  leifure  hours,  when  the 
infinitely  greater  things  contained  or  pointed  at  in  them 
are  palfed  over  and  never  taken  notice  of.  Whatever 
trealures  the  fcriptures  contain,  we  firall  be  never  the 
better  for  them  if  we  do  not  obferve  them.  He  that 
has  a  Bible,  and  does  not  obferve  what  is  contained  in 
jt,  is  like  a  man  who  has  a  box  full  of  filver  and  gold, 
and  does  not  know  it,  does  not  obferve  that  it  is  any 
thing  more  than  a  vefTel  filled  with  common  flones.  As 
long  as  it  is  thus  with  him,  he  will  be  never  the  better 
for  his  treafure :  for  he  that  knows  not  that  he  has  a 
treafure,  will  never  make  ufe  of  what  he  has,  and  fo 
might  as  well  be  without  it.  He  who  has  a  plenty  of 
the  choiceft  food  ftored  up  in  his  houfe,  and  does  not 
know  it,  will  never  tafte  what  he  has,  and  will  be  as 
likely  to  ftarve  as  if  his  houfe  were  empty. 

VIII.  What  has  been  faid,  may  Ihow  us  how  great 
a  perfon  Jefus  Chrift  is,  and  how  great  an  errand  he 
came  into  the  world  upon,  feeing  there  was  fo  much 
done  to  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming.  God  had  been 
doing  nothing  elfe  but  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming, 
and  doing  the  work  which  he  had  to  do  in  the  world, 
through  all  ages  of  the  world  from  the  very  beginning. 
If  we  had  notice  of  a  certain  ftranger's  being  about  to 
come  into  a  country,  and  Ihotild  obferve  that  a  great, 
preparation  was  made  for  his  coming,  that  many  months 
■were  taken  up  in  it,  and  great  things  were  done,  many 

great 


Impr.       The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.       193 

great  alterations  were  made  in  the  ftate  of  the  whole 
country,  and  that  many  hands  were  emplo)  ed,  and  per- 
fons  of  great  note  were  engaged  in  making  preparation 
for  the  coming  of  this  perion,  and  the  whole  country 
was  overturned,  and  all  the  affairs  and  concerns  of  the 
country  were  ordered  fo  as  to  be  fubfervient  to  the  de- 
fign  of  entertaining  that  perfon  when  he  fhould  come  ; 
it  would  be  natural  for  us  to  think  with  ourfelves,  why, 
furely,  this  perfon  is  fome  extraordinary  perfon  indeed, 
and  it  is  fome  ver)'  great  bufmefs  that  he  is  coming  upon. 

How  great  a  perfon  then  muft  he  be,  for  whofe  com- 
ing into  the  world  the  great  God  of  heaven  and  earth, 
and  governor  of  all  things,  fpent  four  thoufand  years 
in  preparing  the  way,  going  about  it  foon  after  the 
world  was  created,  and  from  age  to  age  doing  great 
things,  bringing  mighty  events  to  pafs,  accompliihing 
wonders  without  number,  often  overturning  the  world 
in  order  to  it,  and  caufmg  every  thing  in  the  ftate  o£ 
mankind,  and  all  revolutions  and  changes  in  the  habit- 
able world  from  generation  to  generation  to  be  fubfer- 
vient to  this  great  defign  ?  Surely  this  mufl  be  fome 
great  and  extraordinary  perfon  indeed,  and  a  great  work 
indeed  it  mufl  needs  be  that  he  is  coming  about. 

We  read,  Matth.  xxi.  8.  9.  10.  that  when  Chriff  was 
coming  into  Jerufalem,  and  the  multitudes  ran  before: 
him,  and  cut  down  branches  of  palm-trees,  and  flrew- 
cd  them  in  the  way,  and  others  fpread  their  garments 
in  the  way,  and  cried,  ''  Hofanna  to  the  fon  of  Da-. 
**  vid,"  that  the  whole  city  was  moved,  faying.  Who 
is  this  ?  They  wondered  who  that  extraordinary  perfon 
fhould  be,  that  there  fhould  be  fuch  an  ado  made  on 
occafion  of  his  coming  into  the  city,  and  to  prepare 
the  way  before  him.  But  if  we  confider  what  has  been 
faid  on  this  fubjeft,  what  great  things  were  done  in  all 
ages  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chriff 's  coming  into  the 
world,  and  how  the  world  was  often  overturned  to 
make  way  for  it,  much  more  may  we  cry  out,  Who  is 
this  ?  What  great  perfon  is  this  ?  And  fay,  as  in  Pfal, 
xxiv.  8.  10.  *'  Who  is  this  King  of  glor)',"  that  God 
fliould  fhow  fuch  refpeft,  and  put  fuch  vafl  honour  up- 
on him  ?  Surely  this  perfon  is  honourable  indeed  in 
God's  eyes,  and  greatly  beloved  of  him  ;  and  furely  i^ 
is  a  great  errand  upon  which  he  is  fent  into  the  world. 
Y  PERIOD 


i94 


P    E    R    I    O    fi        it. 

HAVING  fhown  how  the  work  of  redemptiOi^ 
was  carried  on  through  the  firfl:  period,  from 
the  fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation  of  Chrift,  I  come 
r.ow  to  the  fecond  period,  viz.  the  time  of  Chrifl's 
humiliation,  or  the  fpace  from  the  incarnation  of 
Chrift  to  his  refurreftion.  And  this  is  the  moil  remaark-- 
able  article  of  tim^e  that  ever  was  or  ever  will  be.— 
Though  it  was  but  between  thirty  and  forty  years,  yet 
more  was  done  irt  it  than  had  been  done  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world  to  that  time.  We  have  obfer- 
ved,  that  all  that  had  been  done  from  the  fall  to  the  in- 
carnation of  Chrift,  v/as  only  preparatory  for  what  was 
done  now.  And  it  may  alfo  be  obferved,  that  all  that 
was  done  before  the  beginning  of  time,  in  the  eternal 
counfels  of  God,  and  that  eternal  tranfaftion  there 
was  betwen  the  perfons  of  the  Trinity,  chiefly  refpeft- 
td  this  period.  We  therefore  now  proceed  to  confidcr 
ihejecond prapo/ition,  viz. 

That  during  the  time  of  Chrijl's  humiliation, from 
^Jiis  incarnatio'n  to  his  reJ'urreBioni  the  purcha/e  of  re* 
demptian  was  made. 

Though  there  were  many  things  done  in  the  affair 
of  redemption  from  the  fall  of  man  to  this  time,  though 
millions  of  facrifices  had  been  offered  up  ;  vet  nothiug 
was  done  to  purchafe  redemption  before  Cbiift's  incar- 
llation :  no  part  of  the  purchafe  was  made,  no  part  of 
the  price  was  offered  till  now.  But  as  foon  as  Chrift 
was  incarnate,  then  the  purchafe  began  imi'nediately 
without  any  delay.  And  the  whole  time  of  Cbiift's 
humiliation,  from  the  morning  that  Chrift  began  to  be 
incarnate,  till  the  morning  that  he  rofe  from  the  dead, 
was  taken  up  in  this  purchafe.  And  then  the  purchafe 
was  entirely  a/id  completely  finilhed.  As  nothing  was 
done  before  Chrlft's  incarnation,  fo  nothing  was  done 
after  his  refurreftion,  to  purchafe  redemption  for  men. 
Nor  will  there  ever  be  any  thing  more  done  to  all  eter- 
nity.   But  that  very  moment  that  the  human  nature  of 

Chnlb 


Fart  L  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF,  &c.  $95 

Chrift  ceafed  to  remain  under  the  power  of  death,  the 
utmofl  farthing  was  paid  of  the  price  of  the  falvatioii 
of  eveiy  one  of  the  ele8. 

But  for  the  more  orderly  and  regular  conficleratlon 
of  the  great  things  done  by  our  Redeemer,  to  purchafe 
redemption  for  us, 

1.  I  would  fpcak  of  Chrlfl's  becoming  incarnate  to 
.capacitate  himfelf  for  this  purchafe  ;— and, 

2.  I  would  fpeak  of  the  purchafe  itfelf.' 

PART        I. 

THIRST,  I  would  confider  of  Chrift's  coming  into 
JL  the  world,  or  his  taking  upon  him  our  nature  "to  put 
himlelf  HI  a  capacity  to  purchafe  redemption  for  us.— 
Chrill  became  incarnate,  or,  which  is  the  fame  thinff, 
became  man,  to  put  himfelf  in  a  capacity  for  worklnJ 
otit  our  redemption :  for  though  Chrift,  as  God,  wal 
infinitely  fufficient  for  the  work,  yet  to  his  beino-  in  an 
immediate  capacity  for  it,  it  was  needful  that  heldiould 
not  only  be  God  but  man.  If  Chrift  had  remained  on- 
ly in  the  divme  nature,  he  would  not  have  been  in  a  ca- 
pacity to  have  purchafed  our  falvation  ;  not  f]om  any 
imperfeaion  of  the  divine  nature,  but  by  reafon  of  its 
abfokite  and  infinite  perfeaion:  for  Chrift,  merely  as 
God,  was  not  capable  either  of  that  obedience  or  buf- 
fering that  was  needful.  The  divine  nature  is  not  ca- 
pable of  fullering  ;  for  it  is  infinitely  above  all  fuffer- 
mg.  Neither  is  it  capable  of  obedience  to  that  law  that 
was  given  to  man.  It  is  as  impoffible  that  one  v/ho  is 
oniy  God,  fhould  obey  the  law  that  was  o-iven  to  man 
as  it  is  that  he_  fhould  fulFer  man's  punifhment.  ' 

And  it  was  neceffar)-  not  only  that  Chrift  fhould  take 
upon  him  a  created  nature,  bat  that  he  fhould  take  up- 
on him  our  nature.  It  would  not  have  fufEced  for  us 
for  Uirift  to  have  become  an  angel,  and  to  have  obeyed 
and  iufFered  in  an  angelic  nature.  But  it  was  necelTaiy' 
tiiat  he  fhould  become  a  man,  and  that  upon  three  ac- 
counts. 

1.  pzuas  needful  to  anfzver  the  law,  that  that  nature 
JhcuUl  obey  the  law,  to  which  the  law  was  ^ivau    Man's 
Y  2  la\y 


196  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  II. 

law  could  not  be  anfwered,  but  by  being  obeyed  by 
man.  God  infifted  upon  it,  that  the  law  which  he  had 
given  toman  fliouldbe  honoured  and  fubmitted  to,  and 
fulfilled  by  the  nature  of  man,  otherwife  the  law  could 
not  be  anfwered  for  men.  The  M^ords  that  were  fpo- 
ken.  Thou  fhalt  not  eat  thereof,  Thou  fhalt,  or  Thou 
fhalt  not  do  thus  or  thus,  were  fpoken  to  the  race  of 
jnankind,  to  the  human  nature ;  and  therefore  the  hu- 
man nature  muft  fulfil  them. 

2.  It  was  nteAlJid  to  nnfwer  the  law  that  the  nature 
that  finned  Jliould  die.  Thefe  words,  "  Thou  flialt  fure- 
*'  ly  die,"  refpeft  the  human  nature.  The  fame  nature 
to  which  the  command  was  given,  was  the  nature  to 
which  the  threatening  was  direfted. 

3.  God  I  aw  mtei^  that  the  fame  ivorld  which  was  the 
fagc  of  mans  fall  and  ruin,fiould  alfp  he  the  f  age  of 

his  redemption.  We  read  often  of  his  coming  into  the 
world  to  fave  finners,  and  of  God's  fending  him  into 
the  world  for  this  purpofe.  It  was  needful  that  he 
fhould  come  into  this  fmful,  miferable,  undone  world, 
to  rcftore  and  fave  it.  In  order  to  man's  recoveiy,  it 
v.-as  needful  that  he  fhould  come  down  to  man,  to  the 
world  that  was  man's  proper  habitation,  and  that  he 
fliould  tabernacle  with  us  :  John  i.  14.  "  The  word  was 
**  made  fielh,  and  dwelt  among  us." 

CoxCERMiNG  the  incarnation  of  ChriH,  I  would 
obferve  thefe  following  things : 

I.  The  incarnation  itfelf ;  in  which  efpecially  two 
tilings  are  to  be  confidered,  viz. 

1.  His  conception,  which  was  in  the  womb  of  one 
-of  the  race  of  mankind,  whereby  he  became  truly  the 
Son  of  man,  as  he  was  often  called.  He  was  one  of 
tiie  poflerity  of  Adam,  and  a  child  of  Abraham,  and  a 
f.jn  of  David  according  to  God's  promife.  But  his 
conception  was  not  in  the  way  of  ordinary  generation, 
but  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Gholt.  Chrift  was  form- 
ed in  tlic  womb  of  the  Virgin,  of  the  fubflance  of  her 
body,  by  the  power  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  So  that  he 
was  the  immediate  fon  of  the  woman,  but  not  the  im- 
r.jediate  fon  of  any  male  whatfoever  ;  and  fo  was  the 
feed  of  the  vvoman,  and  the  fon  of  a  virgin,  one  that 
had  never  known  man. 

2.  His 


Parti.      The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.      19; 

2.  His  birth. Though  the  conception  of  ChnH: 

was  fupernatural,  yet  after  he  was  conceived,  and  fo 
tlec  incarnation  of  Ciind  begun,  his  human  nature  was 
oradually  perfected  in  the  womb  of  the  virgin,  in  a 
way  of  natural  progrefs ;  and  fo  his  birth  was  in  the  way 
ol"  nature.  But  his  conception  being  fupernatural,  by 
the  power  of  the  Holy  Gholl,  He  was  both  conceived 
and  born  without  fin. 

II.  The  fecond  thing  I  would  obferve,  concerningthe 
incarnation  of  Chriil,  is  the  fullnefs  of  the  time  in 
which  it  was  accompliihed.  It  was  after  things  had 
been  preparing  for  it  from  the  very  firfl  fall  of  man- 
kind, and  when  all  things  were  ready.  It  came  to  pafs 
at  a  time,  which  in  infinite  wifdom  was  the  moll  fit  and 
proper :  Gal,  iv.  4.  *'  But  when  the  fullnefs  of  time 
*'  was  come,  God  fent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  wo- 
**  man,  made  under  the  law." 

It  was  now  the  moft  proper  time  on  every  account. 

Any  time  before  the  flood  would  not  have  been  fo  fit 
a  time.  For  then  the  mifchief  and  ruin  that  the  fall 
brought  on  mankind,  was  not  fully  fcen.  The  curfe 
did  not  fo  fully  come  on  the  earth  before  the  flood,  as 
it  did  afterwards :  for  though  the  groimd  was  curfed 
in  a  great  meafure  before,  yet  it  pleafed  God  that  the 
curfe  fhould  once,  before  the  reftoration  by  Chrift,  be 
executed  in  a  univerfal  deflruftion,  as  it  were,  of  the 
very  form  of  the  earth,  tliat  the  dire  efFefts  of  the  fall 
might  once  in  fuch  a  way  be  feen  before  the  recovery  by 
Chrift.  Though  mankind  were  irxortal  before  the  flood, 
yet  their  lives  were  the  greater  part  of  a  thoufand  years 
in  length,  a  kind  of  immortality  in  comparifon  with 
v.'hat  the  life  of  man  is  now.  It  pleafed  God,  that  that 
curfe,  "  Duft  tliou  art,  and  unto  duft  thou  fhalt  re- 
*'  turn,"  fliould  have  its  full  accompli flnr.ent,  and  be 
executed  in  its  greateft  degree  on  mankind,  before  tlie 
Redeemer  came  to  purchafe  a  never  ending  life  for 
man. 

It  would  not  have  been  To  fit  a  time  for  Chrifl.  to  come, 
after  the  flood,  before  Mofes's  time:  for  till  then  man- 
kind were  not  fo  univerfally  apofliatized  from  the  true 
God  ;  they  were  not  falfen  univerfally  into  Heathenifii 
darknefs ;  and  fo  the  need  of  Chrifi,  the  light  of  the 
V'orld,  was  not   fo  evident:    and    the  woful  confe- 

quence 


198  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Period  II. 

quence  of  the  fall  with  refpeft  toman's  mortality,  was 
Slot  fo  fully  manifeft  till  then  ;  for  man's  life  was  not 
fo  iliortened  as  to  be  reduced  to  the  prefent  ftandard  till 
about  Mofes's  time. 

It  was  moft  fit  that  the  time  of  the  Mefliah's  coming 
fhould  not  be  till  many  ages  afer  Mofes's  time ;  till  all 
nations,  but  the  children  of  Ifrael,  had  lain  long  in 
Heathenifh  darknefs ;  that  the  remedileffnefs  of  their 
difeafe  might  by  long  experience  be  feen,  and  fo  the  ab- 
folute  neceflity  of  the  heavenly  phyfician,  before  he 
came. 

Another  reafon  why  Chrift  did  not  come  foon  after 
the  flood  probably  was,  that  the  earth  might  be  full  of 
people,   that  Chrift  might  have  the  more  extenfive  king- 
dom, and  that  the  effects  of  his  light,  and  power,  and 
grace,  m.ight  be  glorified,  and  that  his  viftory  over  Sa- 
tan might  be  attended  with  the  more  glory  in  the  mul- 
titude of  his  conquefls.       It  was  alfo   needful  that  the 
coming  of  Chrift  fhould  be  many  ages  after  Mofes,  that 
the  church   might  be  prepared  which  was  formed  by 
Mofes  for  his  coming,  by  the  Meffiah's  being  long  pre- 
figured, and  by  his  being  many  ways   foretold,  and  by 
his  being  long  expefied.    It  was  not  proper  that  Chiift 
should   come  before  the  Babylonilh  captivity,  becaufe 
Satan's  kingdom  was  not  then  come  to  the  height.  The 
Heathen  M'-orld  before  that  confifted  of  lefTer  kingdom.s. 
But  God  faw  meet  that  the  MefTiah  fiiould  come  in  the 
time  of  one  of  the  four  great  monarchies  of  the  vrorld. 
Nor  was  it  proper  that  he  Ihould  come  in  the  time  of  thef 
Babylonilh  monarchy ;  for  it  was  God's  will  that  feve- 
ral  general  monarchies  fhould  follow  one  another,  and 
that  the  coming  of  the  MefTiah  fliould  be  in  the  time  of 
thelaft,  which  appeared  above  ihem  all.  The  Perfian  mo- 
narchy, by  overcoming  the  Babylonian,  appeared  above' 
it :  and  fo  the  Grecian,  by  overcoming  the  Perfian,  ap- 
peared above  that ;    and  for  the  fame  reafon,  the  Ro- 
man above  the  Grecian.     Now  it  was  the  will  of  God, 
that  his  Son  fliould  make  his  appearance  in  the  world, 
in   the   time  of  this  greateft  and  ftrongeft  monarcliy, 
which  was  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  in  the  world  ;   that, 
by  overcoming  this,  he  might  vifibly  overcome  Satan's 
kingdom  in  its  greateft  ftrength  and  glory,  and  fo  ob- 
tain the  more  compleat  triumph  over  Satan  himfelf. 


Part  I.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      igg 

It  was  not  proper  that  Chrift  fnoiild  come  before  the 
Babylonilh  captivity.  For,  before  that,  we  have  nothif- 
lories  of  the  Hate  of  tlie  Heathen  world,  to  give  us 
an  idea  of  the  need  of  a  Saviour.  And  befides,  before 
that,  learning  did  not  much  flourifh,  and  fo  there  had 
not  been  opportunity  to  fllo^v  the  infufficiency  of  hu- 
man learning  and  wifdom  to  reform  and  fave  mankind. 
Again  before  that,  the  Jews  were  not  difperfed  over 
the  world,  as  they  were  afterwards  ;  and  fo  things  were 
not  prepared  in  this  refpecl  for  the  coming  of  Chrift. 
The  neceffity  of  abolifhing  the  Jewilh  difp^nfation  was 
not  then  fo  apparent  as  it  was  afterwards,  by  reafon  of 
the  difperfion  of  the  Jews;  neither  was  the  way  prepa- 
red for  the  propagation  of  the  gofpel,  as  it  was  after- 
wards, by  the  fame  difperfion.  'Many  other  things 
might  be  mentioned,  by  which  it  would  appear,  that 
no  other  time  before  that  very  time  in  which  Chrift  did 
come,  would  have  been  proper  for  his  appearing  in  tlie 
world  to  purchafe  the  redemption  of  men. 

III.  The  next  thing  that  I  v/ould  obferve  coneerninn- 
the  incarnation  of  Chrift,  is  the  greatncfs  of  this  even? 
Chrifl's  incarnation  was  a  greater  and  more  v/onderful 
thing  than  ever  had  come  to  pafs  ;  and  there  has  been 
but  one  that  has  ever  come  to  pafs,  which  was  greater 
and  that  was  the  death  of  Chrift,  which  was  afterwards! 
But  Chrill's  incarnation  was  a  greater  thing  than  had 
ever  come  to  pafs  before.  The  creation  of  the  world 
was  a  very  great  thing,  but  not  fo  great  a  thing  as  the 
incarnation  of  Chrift.  It  was  a  great  thing  for  God  to 
make  the  creature,  but  not  fo  great  as  for  God,  as  for 
the  creator  himfelf,  to  become  a  creature.  We  have 
fpoken  of  many  great  tilings  that  were  accompliftied 
irom  one  age  to  another,  in  the  ages  between  tlie  fall 
of  man  and  the  incarnation  of  Chrift :  but  God's  be- 
coming man  was  a  greater  thing  than  they  all.  When 
Chrift  was  born,  thcgreateft  perfon  was  born  that  ever 
was,  or  ever  will  be  born. 

IV.  What  I  would  next  obferve  concernin(T  the  m^ 
carnation  of  Chrift,  are  the  remarkable  circumftaaccs 
ot  It;  luchas  his  bemgbornofa  poor  virgin,  that  was 
a  pious  holy  perfon,  but  poor,  as  appeared  by  her  of- 
fering at  her  purification  :  Luke  ii.  24.  «  And  to  offer 
^  a  l^cndce  according  to  that  which  is  faid  in  the  law  of 


^oo  A  HISTORY    OF  Period  IT. 

*'  the  Lord,  A  pair  of  turtle  doves,  or  two  young  pi- 
*'  gecns.  Which  refers  to  Lev.  v.  7.  "  And  if  fliC  be 
*'  not  able  to  bring  a  lamb,  then  fhe  ihall  bring  two  tur- 
*•  ties,  or  two  young  pigeons."  And  this  poor  virgin 
was  efpoufed  to  an  hufband  who  was  a  poor  man. 
Though  they  were  both  of  the  royal  family  of  David, 
the  moll  honourable  family,  and  Jofeph  was  the  right- 
ful heir  to  the  crown  ;  yet  the  family  was  reduced  to  a 
very  low  flate  ;  which  is  reprefenied  by  the  tabernacle 
of  David's  being  fallen  or  broken  down,  Amos  ix.  11,. 
**  In  that  day  will  I  raife  up  the  tabernacle  of  David 
"  that  is  fallen,  and  clofe  up  the  breaches  thereof,  and 
•'  I  will  raife  up  his  ruins,  and  I  will  build  it  as  in  the 
"  days  of  old." 

He  was  born  in  the  tow^n  of  Bethlehem,  as  was  fore- 
told :  and  there  was  a  very  remarkable  providence  of 
God  to  bring  about  the  fulfilment  of  this  prophecy,  the 
taxing  of  all  the  world  byAuguftus  Caefar,  as  in  Lukeii. 
He  was  born  in  a  very  low  condition,  even  in  a  flabic, 
and  laid  in  a  manger. 

V.  I  would  obferve  the  concomitants  of  this  great 
event,  or  the  remarkable  events  with  which  it  was  at- 
tended:  And, 

1.  The  firft  thing  I  would  take  notice  of  that  attend- 
ed the  incarnation  of  Chrift,  was  the  return  of  the  Spi- 
rit ;  M'hich  indeed  began  a  little  before  the  incarnation 
of  Chrifl  ;  but  yet  was  given  on  occafion  of  that,  as  it 
was  to  reveal  cither  his  birth,  or  the  birih  of  his  fore- 
runner John  the  Baptift.  I  have  before  obferved  how 
the  fpirit  of  prophecy  ceafed  not  long  after  the  book 
of  Malachi  was  written.  From  about  the  fame  time 
vifions  and  immediate  revelations  ceafed  alfo.  But  now, 
on  this  occafion,  they  are  granted  anew,  and  the  Spirit 
in  thefe  operations  returns  again.  The  firft  inllance  of 
its  reftoration  that  we  have  any  account  of  is  in  the  \i~ 
fion  of  Zacharias,  the  father  of  John  the  Baptift,  which 
we  read  of  in  the  ift  chapter  of  Luke.  The  next  is  m 
the  vifion  which  the  Virgin  Mary  had,  of  which  we 
read  alfo  in  the  fame  chapter.  The  third  is  in  the  vi- 
fion which  Jofeph  had,  of  which  we  read  in  the  ift 
chapter  of  Matthew.  In  the  next  place  the  Spirit  was 
given  to  Elifabeth,  Luke  i.  41.  Next,  it  was  given  to 
Mar)',  as  appears  by  her  fong,  Luke  i.  46.  &c.   Then, 

tQ 


part  I.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      201 

to  Zachariah  again,  ibid.  ver.  64.  Thtn  it  was  fent  to 
the  Ihepherds,  of  which  we  have  an  account  in  Luke 
ii.  9.  Then  it  was  given  to  Simeon,  Luke  ii.  25.  Then 
to  Anna,  ver.  36.  Then  to  the  wife  men  in  the  ealt. 
.Then  to  Jofeph  again,  direding  him  to  flee  into  Egy23t, 
and  after  that  dire6iing  his  return. 

2.  The  next  concomitant  of  Chrift's  incarnation  that 
I  would  obferve  is,  the  great  notice  that  was  taken  of 
it  in  heaven,  and  on  earth.  How  it  was  noticed  by  the 
glorious  inhabitants  of  the  heavenly  world,  appears  by 
their  joyful  fongs  on  this  occafion,  heard  by  the  Ihep- 
herds  in  the  night.  This  was  the  greateft  event  of  Pro- 
vidence that  ever  the  angels  had  beheld.  We  read  of 
their  Tmging  praifes  when  they  faw  the  formation  of 
this  lower  world :  Job  xxxviii.  7.  "  When  the  morn- 
*'  ing-ftars  fang  together,  and  all  the  fons  of  God 
*'  fhouted  for  joy."  And  as  they  fang  praifes  then, 
fo  they  do  now,  on  this  much  greater  occafion,  of  the 
birth  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  is  the  creator  of  the 
world. 

The  glorious  angels  had  all  along  expefted  this  event. 
They  had  taken  great  notice  of  the  prophecies  and  pro- 
mifes  of  thefe  things  all  along  :  for  we  are  told,  that 
the  angels  defire  to  look  into  the  affan's  of  redem.ption, 
1  Pet.  i.  12.  They  had  all  along  been  the  minifters  of 
Chrift  in  this  affair  of  redemption,  in  all  the  feveral 
fleps  of  it  down  from  the  very  fall  of  man.  So  we  read, 
that  they  were  employed  in  God's  dealings  with  Abra- 
ham, and  in  his  dealings  with  Jacob,  and  in  his  deal- 
ings with  the  Ifraelites  from  tnne  to  time.  And  doubt- 
lefs  they  had  long  joyfully  expelled  the  coming  of 
Chrift ;  but  now  they  fee  it  accomplifhed,  and  there- 
fore greatly  rejoice,  and  fmg  praifes  on  this  occafion. 

Notice  was  taken  of  it  by  Ibme  among  the  Jews ;  as 
particularly  by  Elifabeth  and  the  Virgin  Mary  before 
the  birth  of  Chrift  ;  not  to  fay  by  John  the  Baptift  be- 
fore he  was  born,  when  he  leaped  in  his  mother's  womb 
as  it  were  for  joy,  at  the  voice  of  the  falutation  of 
Mary.  But  Elifabeth  and  Mary  do  moft  joyfully  praife 
God  together,  when  they  meet  with  Chrift  and  his 
forerunner  in  their  wombs,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  in  their 
fouls.  And  afterwards  what  joyful  notice  is  taken  of 
this  event  by  the  fhepherds,  and  by  thofe  holy  perfons 
Z  Zacharias 


202  A  H  I  S  T  0  R  Y  OF  Period  IL 

Zacharias,  and  Simeon,  and  Anna  !  How  do  they 
praife  God  on  this  occafion  !  Thus  the  church  of  God 
in  heaven,  and  the  church  on  earth,  do  as  it  were  uniiC 
in  their  joy  and  praile  on  this  occafion. 

Notice  was  taken  of  it  by  the  Gentiles,  which  ap- 
pears in  the  wife  men  of  the  ealf.  Great  part  of  tb« 
univerfe  does  as  it  were  take  a  joyful  notice  of  the  in- 
carnation of  Chrift.  Heaven  takes  nodce  of  it,  and 
the  inhabitants  fmg  for  joy.  This  lov/er  world,  the 
world  of  m.ankind,  does  alfo  take  notice  of  it  in  both 
parts  of  it,  Jews  and  Gentiles.  It  pleafed  God  to  put 
honour  on  his  Son,  by  wonderfully  ftirring  up  fome  of 
the  wifeft  of  the  Gentiles  to  come  a  long  journey  to  fee 
and  worfliip  the  Son  of  God  at  his  birth,  being  led  by 
a  miraculous  flar,  fignifying  the  birth  of  that  glorious 
perfon,  who  is  the  bright  and  morning  liar,  going  be- 
fore, and  leading  them  to  the  very  place  where  the 
young  child  was.  Some  think  they  wereinflrufted  by 
the  prophecy  of  Balaam,  who  dwelt  in  the  eaileru 
parts,  and  foretold  Chrill's  coming  as  a  ftar  that  Ihould 
rife  out  of  Jacob.  Or  they  might  be  inftrufted  by  that 
general  expeftation  there  was  of  the  Meffiah's  coming 
about  that  time,  before  fpoken  of,  from  the  notice  they 
had  of  it  by  the  prophecies  the  Jews  had  of  him  in 
their  difperfions  in  all  parts  of  the  world  at  that  time. 

3.  The  next  concomitant  of  the  birth  of  Chrift  was 
his  circumcifion.  But  this  may  more  properly  be  fpo- 
ktn  of  under  another  head,  and  [o  I  will  not  inrift  up- 
on it  now. 

4.  The  next  concomitant  was  his  firft  coming  into 
the  fecond  temple,  which  was  his  being  brought  thither 
when  an  infant,  on  occafion  of  the  purification  of  the 
blelTed  Virgin.  We  read,  Hag.  ii.  7.  "  The  defire  of 
*'  all  nations  fliall  come,  and  I  will  fill  this  houfe  (or 
*'  temple)  with  glory."  And  in  Mai.  iii.  1.  "The 
*'  Lord,  whom  ye  feek,  fhall  fuddenly  comiC  to  his 
*'  temple^  even  the  mefTcnger  of  the  covenant."  And 
now  was  the  firll  inftance  of  the  fulfilment  of  thefe  pro- 
phecies. 

,5.  The  lail  concomitant  I  fhall  mention  is  the  fcep- 
fres  departing  from  Judah,  in  the  death  of  Herod  the 
Great.  Tiie  fceptrc  had  never  totally  departed  from 
Judah  till  now,    JiKiah's  fceptrc  was  greatly  diminifhcd 

iu 


Part  L      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       20^ 

jfi  the  revolt  of  the  ten  tribes  in  Jeroboam's  time ;  and 
th.e  fceptre  departed  from  Krael  or  Ephraim  at  the  time 
of  the  captivity  of  the  ten  tribes  by  Shalmanefer.  But 
yet  the  fceptre  remained  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  under 
the  kings  of  the  houfe  of  David.  And  when  the  tribes 
of  Judah  and  Benjamin  were  carried  captive  by  Nebu- 
chadnezzar, the  fceptre  of  Judah  ceafcd  for  a  htile 
while,  till  the  return  fiom  the  captivity  under  Cvrus : 
and  then,  though  they  were  not  an  independent  go- 
vernment, as  they  had  been  before,  but  owed  fealty  to 
the  kings  of  Perfia ;  yet  their  governor  was  of  them- 
felves,  who  had  the  power  of  life  arid  death,  and  they 
were  governed  by  their  own  laws ;  and  fo  Judah  had  a 
lawgiver  from  between  his  feet  during  the  Perfian  and 
Grecian  monarchies.  Towards  the  latter  part  of  tlie 
Grecian  monarchy,  the  people  were  governed  by  kings 
of  their  own,  of  the  race  of  the  Maccabees,  for  the 
greater  part  of  an  hundred  )'ears  ;  and  after  that  they 
were  fubdued  by  the  Romans.  But  yet  the  Ron-ans 
fuffered  them  to  be  governed  by  their  own  laws,  and  to 
have  a  king  of  their  own.  Herod  the  Great,  wlioreign- 
ed  about  forty  years,  and  governed  with  proper  kingly 
authority,  only  paying  homage  to  the  Ramans..  But  pre- 
fently  c,fter  Chrili  was  born  he  died,  as  we  hav^e  an  ac- 
count, Matth.  ii.  19.  and  Archelaus  fuccecded  him ; 
hut  was  foon  put  down  by  the  Roman.  Emperor  ;  and 
then  the  fceptre  departed  from  Judah.  There  were  no, 
more  temporal  kings  of  Judah  after  that,  neither  had 
that  people  their  governors  from  the  midft  of  them- 
lelves  after  that,  but  were  ruled  by  a  Roman  governor 
fent  among  them  ;  and  they  ceafed  any  more  to  have  the- 
power  of  life  and  death  among  themfelves.  Hence  the- 
Jews  fay  to  Pilate,  "  It  is  not  lawful  for  us  to  put  any 
*-  man  to  death,"  John  xviii.  31.  Thus  the  fceptre- 
departed  from  Judah  when  Shiloh  cam.e,. 


PART        II. 


HAVING  thus  confidered  Clirift's  coming  into  the- 
world,  and  his  taking  upon  him  our  natrre,  to  put. 
l^imlelf  in  a  capacity  for  the  purchafe  of  redemption,  li 
Z  2  comQ 


204  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  11. 

come  now,   Sfxondly,  to  fpeak  of  the  purchafe  it- 
felf. — And  in  fpeaking  of  this,  I  would, 

1.  Show  what  is  intended  by  the   purchafe  of  re- 
demption. 

2.  Obferve  fome  things  in  general  concerning  thofe 
things  by  which  this  purchafe  was  made. 

3.  I  would  orderly  confider  thofe  things  which  Chrift 
did  and  fuffered,  by  which  that  purchafe  was  made. 

S  E  C  T.     I 

I  WOULD  {how  what  is  here  intended  by  Chrift's 
purchafmg  redemption.  And  there  are  two  things 
that  are  intended  by  it,  viz.  his  fatisfaftion,  and  his  merit. 
All  is  done  by  the  price  that  Chrift  lays  down.  But  the 
price  that  Chrift  laid  down  does  two  things :  it  pays 
our  debt,  and  fo  it  fatisfies  :  by  its  intrinfic  value,  and 
by  the  agreement  between  the  Father  and  the  Son,  it 
procures  a  title  to  us  for  happinefs,  and  fo  it  merits. 
The  fatisfa6Lion  of  Chrill  is  to  free  us  from  mifery, 
and  the  merit  of  Chrift  is  to  purchafe  happinefs  for  us. 
The  word  purchafe,  as  it  is  ufed  with  refpeft  to  the 
purchafe  of  Chrift,  is  taken  either  more  ftridly  or  more 
largely.  It  is  oftentimiCs  ufed  more  ftriftly,  to  fignify 
only  the  merit  of  Chrift  ;  and  fometimes  more  largely, 
to  (ignify  both  his  fatisfa6)ion  and  merit.  Indeed  moft 
of  the  words  which  are  ufed  in  this  affair  have  various 
fignifications.  Thus  fometimes  divines  u(e?nenl  in  this 
affair  for  the  whole  price  that  Chrift  offered,  both  fa- 
tisfaclory,  and  alfo  pofitively  meritorious.  And  fo  the 
wora  fatisfo&ion  is  fometimes  ufed,  not  only  for  his 
propitiation,  but  alfo  for  his  meritorious  obedience. 
For  in  fome  fenfe,  not  only  fufiering  the  penalty,  but 
pofitively  obeying,  is  needful  to  fatisfy  the  law.  The 
reafon  of  this  various  ufe  of  thefe  terms  feems  to  be,  that 
fatisfaftion  and  merit  do  no^  differ  fo  much  really  as  re- 
latively. They  both  confift  in  paying  a  valuable  price, 
a  price  of  infinite  value ;  but  only  that  price,  as  it  re- 
fpects  a  debt  to  be  paid,  is  cdWcA  fatisfnBion  ;  and  as  it 
refpe6}5  a  pofitive  good  to  be  obtained,  is  called  jnerit, 
'I  he  difference  between  paying  a  debrand  makings  po- 
fitivc  purchafe  is  more  relative  than  it  is  effential.  He 
who  lays  cbwn  a  price  to  pay  a  debt,  docs  in  fome  fenfe, 

make 


Part. II.  1.  The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.   205 

make  a  purchafe :  he  purchafes  liberty  from  the  obHga- 
tion.  And  he  who  lays  down  a  price  to  purchafe  a 
good,  does  as  it  were  make  fatisfaftion  :  ^e  fatisfies  the 
conditional  demands  of  him  to  whom  he  pays  it.  This 
may  fuffice  concerning  what  is  meant  by  the  purchafe 
of  Cliiift. 

SECT.        II. 

I  NOW  proceed  to  fome  general  obfervations  con- 
cerning thofe  things  by  which  this  purchafe  was 
made. And  here, 

1.  I  would  obferve,  that  whatever  in  Chri ft  had  the 
nature  of  fatisfaftion,  it  was  by  virtue  of  the  fuffering 
or  humiliation  that  was  in  it.  But  whatever  had  the 
nature  of  merit,  it  was  by  virtue  of  the  obedience  or 
tighteoufnefs  there  was  in  it.  The  fatisfaftion  of  Chriil 
confifts  in  his  anfwering  the  demands  of  the  law  on 
iman,  which  were  confequent  on  the  breach  of  the  law. 
Thefe  were  anfwered  by  fuffering  the  penalty  of  the 
law.  The  merit  of  Chrift  confifts  in  what  he  did  to 
^nfwer  the  demands  of  the  law,  which  were  prior  to 
Jnan's  breach  of  the  law,  or  to  fulfil  what  the  law  de- 
manded before  man  finned,  which  was  obedience. 

The  fatisfaftion  or  propitiation  of  Chrift  confifts  ci» 
therinhis  fuffering  evil,  or  his  being  fubjecl  to  abafe- 
ment.  For  Chrift  did  not  only  make  fatisfaftion  by 
proper  fuffering,  but  by  whatever  had  the  nature  of 
humiliation,  and  abafement  of  circumftances.  Thus 
Chrift  made  fatisfaftion  for  fin,  by  continuing  under 
the  power  of  death,  while  he  lay  buried  in  the  grave, 
though  neither  his  body  nor  foul  properly  endured  any 
fuffering  after  he  was  dead.  Whatever  Chrift  was  fub- 
jeft  to  that  was  the  judicial  fruit  of  fin,  had  the  nature 
of  fatisfaftion  for  fin.  But  net  only  proper  fuffering, 
but  all  abafement  and  depreffion  of  the  ftate  and  cir- 
cumftances of  mankind  below  its  primitive  honor  and 
dignity,  fuch  as  his  body's  remaining  under  death,  and 
body  and  foul  remaining  feparate,  and  other  things  that 
might  be  mentioned,  are  the  judicial  fruits  of  fin.  And 
all  that  Chrift  did  in  his  ftate  of  humiliation,  that  had 
the  nature  of  obedience  or  moral  virtue  or  goodnefs  in 
it,  in  one  refpe61;  or  another  had  the  nature  of  merit 
'  in 


t2c6  A   H  I  S  TO  R  Y    OF  Period  II, 

iVf.  it,  and  was  part  of  the  price  ^vith  which  he  piir- 
jfhafed  happinefs  for  the  elect. 

2.  I  would  obferve,  that  both  Chrift's  fatisfaftion  for 
lin,  and  alfo  his  meritmg  happinefs  by  his  righicoufnefs, 
were  c<  rried  on  through  the  whole  time  of  his  humiU- 
ation.  Chiilt's  fatistadion  for  fm  was  not  only  byhis 
laft  fuf  erings,  though  it  was  principally  by  them  ;  but 
all  his  fufFenng3,  and  ^U  the  humiliation  that  he  was 
fubjecl  to  irom  the  firft  moment  of  his  incarnation 
to  his  rcfunettion,  were  propitiatoiy  or  fatistaftory. 
Ch rill's  fatisfa6iion  was  chiefly  by  his  death,  becaufe  his 
fufferings  and  humiliation  in  that  vy^as  greatefl.  But  all 
his  other  fufferings,  and  all  his  other  humiliation,  all 
along  had  tlie  nature  of  fatisfatf  ion.  So  had  the  mean 
circumllances  in  which  he  M^as  born.  His  being  born 
in  fuch  a  low  condition,  was  to  make  fatisfaftion  for 
iin.  His  being  born  of  a  poor  virgin,  in  a  flable,  and 
his  being  laid  m  a  manger ;  his  taking  the  human  na- 
ture upon  him  in  its  low  flate,  and  under  thofe  in- 
firmities brought  upon  it  by  the  fall ;  his  being  born  in 
the  form  of  frnfid  flefli,  had  the  nature  of  fafisfacfion. 
And  fo  all  his  fufferings  in  his  infancy  and  childhood, 
and  all  that  labour,  and  contempt,  and  reproach,  and 
temptation,  and  difficulty  of  any  kind,  or  that  he  fufg 
fered  through  the  whole  courfe  of  his  life,  was  of  a 
propitiatory  and  fatisfaftory  nature. 

And  fo  his  purchafe  of  happinefs  by  his  rigbteouf- 
nefs  wzis  aifo  carried  on  through  the  whole  time  of  his 
humiliation  till  his  refurredion  not  only  in  that  obe- 
dience he  performed  through  the  courfe  of  his  life,  but 
alfo  in  the  obedience  he  performed  in  laying  down  his 

3.  It  was  by  the  fame  things  that  Chrift  hath  fatisfied 
God's  juflice,  and  alfo  purchafed  eternal  happinefs. 
This  fatisfaftion  and  purchafe  of  Chriff  were  not  only 
hotli  carried  on  through  the  whole  tim^e  of  Chrifl's  hu- 
miliation, hut  they  were  both  carried  on  by  the  fame 
things.  He  did  not  make  fatisfaftion  by  fome  things 
that  he  did,  and  then  work  out  a  righteoufnefs  by  other 
different  things  ;  but  in  the  fame  afts  by  which  he. 
wrought  out  righteoufnefs,  he  alfo  made  fatisfaftion, 
hut  only  taken  in  a  different  relation.  One  and  the 
fame  a6i  of  Christ,  confidered  with  refpeft  to.  the  ob^^ 

dienc^ 


part II.  2.    The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.   207 

dience  there  was  in  it,  was  part  of  his  righteorifnefs, 
and  purchafed  Heaven :  but  confidered  with  refped  to 
the  felf-denial,  and  difficuky,  and  humihation,  with 
which  he  performed  it,  had  the  nature  of  fatisfaftioa 
for  fin,  and  procured  our  pardon.  Thus  his  going 
about  doing  good,  preaching  the  gofpe!,  and  teaching 
his  difciples,  was  a  part  of  his  righteoufnefs,  and  pur- 
chafe  of  Heaven,  as  it  was  done  in  obedience  to  the 
Father ;  and  the  fame  was  a  part  of  his  fatisfaftion,  as  he 
did  it  with  great  labour,  trouble  and  wearinefs,  and 
under  great  temptations,  expofing  himfelf  hereby,  to  re- 
proach and  contempt.  So  his  laying  down  his  life  had 
the  nature  of  fatisfatlion  to  God  s  offended  jufiice, 
confidered  as  his  bearing  our  punifhment  in  our  flead : 
but  confidered  as  an  aft  of  obedience  to  God,  w^ho  had 
given  him  this  command,  that  he  fliOuld  lay  down  his 
life  for  finners,  it  M'as  a  part  of  his  righteoufnefs,  and 
purchafe  of  Heaven,  and  as  much  the  principal  part  o£ 
his  righteoufnefs  as  it  was  the  principal  part  of  his  fatif- 
faftion.  And  fo  to  inflance  in  his  circumcifion,  what  he 
fuffered  in  that,  had  the  nature  of  fatisfaftion  :  the 
blood  that  was  Ihed  in  his  circumcifion  was  propitiaf- 
tory  blood;  but  as  it  was  a  conformity  to  the  law  of 
Mofes,  it  was  part  of  his  meritorious  righteoufnefs. 
Though  it  was  not  properly  the  aft  of  his  human  na- 
ture, he  being  an  infant ;  yet  it  being  what  the  human 
nature  was  the  fubjeft  of,  and  being  the  aft  of  that 
perfon,  it  was  accepted  as  an  aft  of  his  obedience,  as 
our  Mediator. 

And  fo  even  his  being  born  in  fuch  a  low  condition, 
had  the  nature  of  fatisfaftion,  by  reafon  of  the  humi- 
liation that  was  in  it,  and  alfo  of  righteoufnefs,  as  it 
was  the  aft  of  his  perfon  in  obedience  to  the  Father, 
and  what  the  human  nature  was  the  fubjeft  of,  and 
what  the  will  of  the  human  nature  did  acquiefce  in, 
though  there  was  no  aft  of  the  will  of  the  human  na- 
ture prior  to  it. 

These  things  mav  fuffice  to  have  obferved  in  the 
general  concerning  the  pr.rchafe   Chrill  made  of 
<lemption. 

SEC  T. 


re 


^o8  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  or  Period  II. 


SECT.        III. 

I  NOW  proceed  to  fpeak  more  particularly  of  thofc 
things  which  Chriii  did,  and  was  the  fubjeft  of,  du- 
ring the  time  of  his  humiliation,  whereby  this  purchafe 

was  made. And  the   nature  cf  the  purchafe  of 

Chriit,  as  it  has  been   explained,  leads  us  to  confider 
thefe  things  under  a  tw6  fold  view,  viz. 

1.  With  refpeft  to  his  righteoufnej's^  which  appeared 
in  them. 

2.  With  xQ.i'^QQ.iothe  fufferings  andhu77iiliation\h2X 
he  was  fubjecl  to  in  them  in  our  ftead. 

§  I.  I  will  confider  the  things  that  pafled  during  the 
time  of  Chrift's  humiliation,  with  refpe6f  to  the  obe- 
dience and  nghteoiifnejs  that  he  exercifed  in  them.  And 
this  is  fubje6t  to  a  three  fold  diflribution.  I  fhall  there- 
fore confider  his  obedience, 

1.  With  refpeftto  the  laws  which  he  obeyed. 

2.  With  refpeft  to  the  different  Jl ages  of  his  life  in 
which  he  performed  it. 

3.  With  refpeft  to  the  virtues  he  exercifed  in  his 
obedience. 

I.  The  firft  diflribution  of  the  a61s  of  Chrill's  righ- 
teoufnefs  is  with  refpeft  to  the  laws  zuhich  Chrifl  obeyed 
In  that  righteoufnefs  which  he  performed.  But  here  it 
muft  be  obferved  in  general,  that  all  the  precepts  which 
Chrift  obeyed,  may  be  reduced  to  one  law,  and  that  is 
that  which  the  apollle  calls  the  law  of  works,  Rom. 
iii.  27.  Every  command  that  Chrift  obeyed  may  be  re- 
duced to  that  great  and  everlalling  law  of  God  that  is 
contained  in  the  covenant  of  Avorks,  that  eternal  rule 
of  right  vi^hich  God  had  eftablifhed  between  himfelfand 
mankind.  Chrift  came  into  the  world  to  fulfil  and  an- 
fwer  the  covenant  of  works ;  that  is,  the  covenant  that 
is  to  ffand  for  ever  as  a  rule  of  judgment;  and  that 
is  the  covenant  that  we  had  broken,  and  that  was  tl^e 
covenant  that  mull  be  fulfilled. 

This  law  of  works  indeed  includes  all  the  laws  of 
God  which  ever  have  been  given  to  mankind  ;  for  it  is 
a  general  rule  cf  the  kw  of  works,  and  indeed  of  the 

law 


Partll.  3-    The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.    209 

law  of  nature,  That  God  is  to  be  obeyed,  and  that  he 
mufl  be  fubmitted  to  in  whatever  pofitivc  precept  he  is 
pleafed  to  give  us.  It  is  a  rule  of  the  law  of  works. 
That  men  Ihould  obey  their  earthly  parents  :  and  it  is 
certainly  as  much  a  rule  of  the  fame  law,  That  we 
fhould  obey  our  heavenly  Father  :  and  fo  the  law  of 
works  requires  obedience  to  all  pofitive  commands  of 
God.  It  required  Adam's  obedience  to  that  pofitive 
command,  Not  to  eat  of  the  forbidden  fruit  ;  and  it 
required  obedience  of  the  Jews  to  all  the  pofitive  com- 
mands of  their  inllitution.  When  God  commanded 
Jonah  to  arife  and  go  to  Nineveh,  the  law  of  works 
required  him  to  obey :  and  fo  it  required  Chrifl's  obe- 
dience to  all  the  pofitive  commands  which  God  gave 
him. 

But,  more  particidarly,  the  commands  of  God  which 
Chrift  obeyed,  were  of  three  kinds  ;  they  were  either 
fuch  as  he  was  fubje6l  to  merely  as  man,  or  fuch  as  he 
was  fubjecl  to  as  he  was  a  Jew,  or  fuch  as  he  was  fub-. 
jeft  to  purely  as  Mediator. 

1.  He  obeyed  thofe  commands  which  he  was  fubje6l 
to  merely  as  man :  and  they  were  the  commands  ot  tlie 
moral  law,  which  was  the  fame  with  that  which  was  gi- 
ven at  Mount  Sinai,  written  in  the  two  tables  of  ftone, 
which  are  obligatory  on  mankind  of  all  nations  and  all 
ages  of  the  world. 

2.  He  obeyed  all  thofe  laws  he  was  fubje6l  to  as  he 
was  a  Jew.  Thus  he  was  fbbje6l  to  the  ceremonial  law, 
and  was  conformed  to  it.  He  was  conformed  to  it  in 
his  being  circumcifed  the  eighth  day  ;  and  he  ftriflly 
obeyed  it  in  going  up  to  Jerufalem  to  the  temple  three 
times  a-year  ;  at  leaft  after  he  was  come  to  the  age  of 
twelve  years,  which  feems  to  have  been  the  age  when 
the  males  began  to  go  up  to  the  temple.  And  fo  Chrift 
conftantly  attended  the  fervice  of  the  temple,  and  of 
the  fynagogues. 

To  this  head  of  his  obedience  to  the  law  that  he  was 
fiibjetl:  to  as  a  Jew,  may  be  reduced  his  fubmiflion  to 
John's  baptifm.  For  it  was  a  fpecial  command  to  the 
jews,  to  go  forth  to  Jolm  the  Baptift,  and  be  baptized 
of  him  ;  and  therefore  Chrift  bemg  a  Jew,  was  fubjeft 
to  this  command :  and  therefore,  when  he  came  to  be 
baptized  of  John,  and  John  objefted,  that  he  had  more 
A  2^  need 


216  A   HISTORY    OF  Periodic. 

need  to  come  to  him  to  be  baptized  of  liim,  he  gives 
this  reafoii  for  it,  That  it  was  needful  that  he  fliould 
do  it,  that  he  might  fulfil  all  righteoufiiefs.  See  Matth. 
iii.  13.  14.  1,5. 

3.  Another  law  that  Chrift  was  fubjeft  to,  was  t/le 
w.edmtorial  law,  which  contained  thofe  commands  of 
God  to  which  he  was  fubjeft,  not  merely  as  man,  nor 
yet  as  a  Jew,  but  which  related  purely  to  his  mediato- 
rial office.  Such  were  the  coilimands  which  the  Father 
gave  him,  to  teach  fuch  doftrines,  to  preach  the  gofpel, 
to  work  fuch  miracles,  to  call  fuch  difciples,  to  appoint 
fuch  ordinances,  and  finally  I'o  lay  down  his  life  :  for 
he  did  all  thefe  thing's  in  obedience  to  commands  he  had 
received  of  the  Father,  as  he  often  tells  us.  And  thefe 
commands  he  was  not  fubjeft  to  merely  as  man  ;  for 
they  did  not  belong  to  other  men :  nor  yet  was  he  fub- 
jeft  to  them  as  a  Jew ;  for  tlicy  were  no  part  of  the 
jVIofaic  law ;  but  they  were  commands  that  he  had  re- 
ceived of  the  Father,  that  purely  refpefted  the  work  he 
was  to  do  in  the  world  in  his  mediatorial  office. 

And  it  is  to  be  obferved,  that  Chrift's  righteoufnefs, 
by  which  he  merited  heaven  for  himfelf,  and  all  Wiio 
believe  in  him,  confills  principally  in  his  obedience  to 
this  mediatorial  law  :  for  in  fulfilling  this  law  confifled 
his  chief  work  and  bufinefs  in  the  world.  The  hiflory 
of  the  evangelifts  is  chiefly  taken  up  in  giving  an  ac- 
count of  his  obedience  to  this  law  :  and  this  part  of  his 
obedience  was  that  wliich  w^as-  attended  Vvilh  the  great- 
ell  difficulty  of  ah  ;  and  therefore  his  obedience  in  it 
was  moll  meritorious.  "What  Chrill  had  to  do  in  the 
world  by  virtue  of  his  being  Mediator,  v/as  infinitely 
ir(ore  difficult  thaji  what  he  had  to  do  merely  as  a  man, 
or  as  a  Jew.  To  his  obedience  to  this  mediatorial  law 
belongs  his  going  through  his  lall  fufferings,  beginning 
^vith  his  agony  in  the  garden,  and  ending  with  his  re- 
furreftion. 

As  the  obedience  of  the  firll  Adam,  wherein  hiy 
righteoufneis  would  hai'e  confiiled,  if  he  had  flood, 
would  have  mainly  confifted,  not  in  his  obedience  to- 
the  moral  law,  to  which  he  \v'as  fubjeft  merely  as  man, 
but  in  his  obedience  to  that  fpecial  law  that  he  was  fub- 
jecl  to  as  moral  head  and  furety  of  mankind,  even  the 
eojnmand  of  abflaining  from  the  tree  of  knowledge  of 

good 


pj^rt  -II.  3.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    211 

gpod  and  evil ;  To  the  obedience  of  the  fecond  Adam, 
wherein  his  righteoiifucrs  confifls,  hcs  mainly,  not  in 
his  obedience  to  the  law  that  he  was  fuhje^t  to  merely  as 
man,  but  to  that  fpecial  law  whicli  he  was  fubje6t  to  in 
his  office  as  Mediator  and  furety  for  man. 

B  E  F  o  R  E  I  proceed  to  the  next  diftrlbution  of  Chrifl's 
Tighteoufnefs,  I  would  obferve  three  things  concerning 
Chrifl's  obedience  to  thefe  laws.o 

1.  He  performed  that  obedience  to  them  which  was 
in  every  refpe6l  perftd.  It  was  univerfal  as  to  the  kinds 
of  laws  that  he  was  fubjeft  to  ;  he  obeyed  each  of 
thefe  three  laws ;  and  it  M^as  univerfal  with  refpe61:  to 
every  individual  precept  contained  in  thefe  laws,  and  it 
was  perfeft  as  to  each  command.  It  was  perfe6l  as  to 
pofitive  tranfgrefTions  avoided :  for  he  never  tranf- 
greffed  in  one  inftance ;  he  was  guilty  of  no  fin  of  com- 
miffion.  And  it  was  perfeft  with  refpe6t  to  the  \S'Orlc 
commanded  :  he  perfected  the  whole  ^vork  that  each 
command  required,  and  never  was  guilty  of  any  fin  of 
omiffion.  K\\^  it  was  perfeft  with  refpeft  to  the  prm- 
ciple  from  which  he  obeyed  :  his  heart  was  perfect,  his 
principles  were  wholly  right,  there  was  no  corruption 
in  his  heart.  Ai)d  it  was  perfeft  with  refpeft  to  the 
ends  he  afted  for:  for  he  never  had  any  by-ends,  but 
aimed  perfeftly  at  fuch  ends  as  the  law  of  God  required. 
And  it  was  perfecf  with  refpeft  to  the  manner  of  per- 
formance :  every  circumffance  of  each  aft  was  perfcftly 
conformed  to  the  command.  And  it  was  perfe6l  with 
refpeft  to  the  degree  of  the  performance  :  he  a6f  ed  whol- 
ly up  to  the  rule.  And  it  was  perf^ft  with  refpeft  to 
the  conflancy  of  obedience  :  he  did  not  only  perfectly 
obey  fometimes,  but  conflantly  without  any  interrup- 
t'on.  And  it, was  perfeft  with  refpe6f  to  perfeverance  : 
he  held  out  in  perfe6f  obedience  to  the  very  end, 
tlirough  all  the  changes  he  paffed  tln'ougb,  and  all  the 
trials  that  were  before  him. 

The  meritorioufnefs  of  Chriil's  obedience,  depends 
on  the  perfeftion  of  it.  If  it  had  failed  in  any  inflancG 
of  perfeftion,  it  could  not  have  been  meritorious :  for 
imperfeft  obedience  is  not  accepted  as  any  obedience  at 
gJl  in  the  fi^ht  of  tiie  law  of  works,  which  was  that  law 
A  a  3  thM 


212  A  HISTORY    OF  Pericdll. 

that  Chrifl  was  fubjeft  to ;  for  that  is  not  accepted  as 
an  obedience  to  a  law  that  does  not  anfwer  that  law. 

2 .  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve  of  Chrift's  obe- 
dience is,  that  it  was  performed  through  the  greateft 
trials  and  temptations  that  ever  any  obedience  was.  His 
obedience  was  attended  with  the  grcateft  difficulties, 
and  moft  extreme  abafement  and  fufferings  that  ever 
any  obedience  was  ;  which  was  another  thing  that  ren- 
dered it  more  meritorious  and  thank-worthy.  To 
obey  another  when  his  commands  are  eafy,  is  not  fo 
worthy,  as  it  is  to  obey  v/hen  it  cannot  be  done  with- 
out great  difficulty. 

3.  He  performed  this  obedience  with  infinite  refpeft 
to  God,  and  the  honour  of  his  law.  The  obedience  he 
performed  was  with  infinitely  greater  love  to  God,  and 
regard  to  his  authority,  than  the  angels  perform  their 
obedience  with.  The  angels  perform  their  obedience 
•with  that  love  which  is  perfeft,  with  fmlefs  perfeftion: 
but  Chrift  did  not  fo,  but  he  performed  his  obedi- 
ence with  much  greater  love  than  the  angels  do  theirs, 
evert  infinite  love  ;  for  though  the  human  nature  of 
Chrift  was  not  capable  of  love  abfolutely  infinite,  yet 
Chrift's  obedience  that  was  performed  in  that  human 
nature,  is  not  to  be  looked  upon  as  m.erely  the  obedience 
of  the  human  nature,  but  the  obedience  of  his  perfon, 
as  God-man ;  and  there  was  infinite  love  of  the  perfon 
of  Chrift  manifeft  in  that  obedience.  And  this,  toge- 
ther with  the  infinite  dignity  of  the  perfon  that  obeyed. 
Tendered  his  obedience  infinitely  meritorious. 

U.  Tke  fccond  diftribution  of  the  afts  of  Chrift's 
obedience,  is  with  refpe61:  to  tht  difftrent  parts  of  his 
life,  wherein  they  were  performed.  And  in  this  refpect 
they  m.ay  be  divided  into  thofe  which  were  performed 
in  private  life,  and  thofe  which  were  performed  in  his 
public  minilhy. 

ift,  Thofe  acts  he  performed  during  his  private  life. 
He  was  perfectly  obedient  in  liis  childhood.  He  infi- 
nitely differed  from  other  children,  who,  as  foon  as 
they  begin  to  act,  begin  to  fin  and  rebel.  He  was  fub- 
ject  to  his  earthly  parents,  though  he  was  Lord  of  all, 
Luke  ii.  51.  He  was  found  about  his  Father's  bufinefs 
at  twelve  years  of  age  in  the  temple,  Luke  ii.  42.  He 
"    ^ ■  -       ■  then 


Partil.  3,    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION,     213 

dicn  began  that  work  that  he  had  tp  do  in  fiilfihnent 
of  the  mediatorial  law,  which  the  Father  had  given 
him.  He  continued  his  private  life  for  about  thirty 
years,  dwelling  at  Nazareth  in  the  houfe  of  his  reputed 
father  Jofeph,  where  he  ferved  God  in  a  private  capa- 
city, and  in  following  a  mechanical  trade,  the  bufmefs 
of  a  carpenter. 

2dlv,  Thofe  acts  which  he  performed  during  Yiispub- 
lie  mini/iryy  which  began  when  he  was  about  thirty 
years  of  age,  and  continued  for  the  three  lafl  years  and 
an  half  of  his  life.  Moft  of  the  hiflory  of  the  evan- 
elifts  is  taken  up  in  giving  an  account  of  what  pafi'ed 
uring  thefe  three  years  and  an  half ;  fo  is  all  the  hi- 
flory of  the  evangeliil  Matthew,  excepting  the  two  firft; 
chapters.  So  is  the  whole  of  the  hiilory  of  the  Evan- 
geliil Mark  ;  it  begins  and  ends  with  it.  And  fo  alfo 
is  all  the  gofpel  of  John,  and  all  the  gofpel  of  Luke, 
excepting  the  two  firfl:  chapters  ;  excepting  alfo  what 
we  find  in  the  evangelifts  concerning  the  miniflry  of 
John  the  Baptiil.  Chrill's  firft  appearing  in  his  public 
miniflry,  is  what  is  often  called  his  coming  in  fcripture. 
Thus  John  fpeaks  of  Chrifl's  coming  as  what  is  yet  to 
be,  though  he  had  been  born  long  before. 

Concerning  the  public  miniflry  of  Chriil,  I  would 
obferve  the  following  things.  1.  The  forerimnerof  it. 
p.  The  manner  of  his  firfl  entering  upon  it.  3.  The 
works  in  which  he  was  employed  during  the  courfe  of 
it ;  and,  4.  The  manner  of  his  finifhing  it. 

1.  The  forerunner  of  Chrifl's  coming  in  his  pubHc 
miniflry  was  John  the  Baptifl :  He  came  preaching  re- 
pentance ior  the  remiflion  of  fms,  to  make  way  for 
Chrifl's  coming,  agreeable  to  the  prophecies  of  him. 
If.  xl.  3.  4.  5.  and  Matth.  iv.  ^.  6.  It  is  fuppofed  that 
John  the  Baptifl  began  his  miniflry  about  three  )  ears 
and  an  half  before  Chrifl ;  fo  that  John's  miniflry  and 
Chrifl's  put  together,  made  feven  )ears,  \vhich  was  the 
Idfl  of  Daniel's  weeks;  and  this  time  is  intended  in  Dan. 
ix.  27.  "  He  will  confirm  the  covenant  with  many  in 
"  one  week."  Chrifl  came  in  the  midll  of  this  week 
viz.  in  the  beginning  of  the  lafl  half  of, it,  or  the  laft 
three  years  and  an  half,  as  Daniel  foretold,  as  in  the 
yerfe  juft  now  quoted:  "  And  in  the  midfl  of  the  week 
^-  he  ihall  caufc  the  facrifice  and  the  oblation  to  ceafe." 

Johii 


514  A    HISTORY    OF 

John  Baptifl's  miniftry  confided  principally  in  preach- 
ing the  law,  to  awaken  men  airl  corivince  them  of  fm^ 
to  prepare  men  for  the  coming  of  Chrift,  to  comfort 
them,  as  the  law  is  to  prepare  the  heart  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  the  gofpel. 

A  very  remarkable  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God 
attended  John's  miniftry  ;  and  the  effeft  of  it  was  that 
Jerufalem,  and  all  Judea,  and  all  the  region  round 
cibout  Jordon,  were  awakened,  convinced,  went  out  to 
him,  and  fubmitted  to  his  baptifm,  confefTrng  their  fins. 
John  is  fpoken  of  ac  the  greatell:  of  all  the  prophets 
\rhocame  before  Chriil :  Matth.  xi.  1 1.  *'  Among  thofe 
•'  that  are  born  of  wom.en,  there  hath  not  rifen  a 
^'  greater  than  John  the  Baptift ;"  i.  e.  he  had  the  moft 
honorable  office.  He  was  as  the  morning  liar,  which 
is  the  harbinger  of  the  approaching  day,  and  forerun- 
ner of  the  rifmg  fun.  The  other  prophets  were  ifars 
that  were  to  give  light  in  the  night ;  but  we  have  heard 
how  thofe  ftars  went  out  on  the  approach  of  the  gofpel- 
ciay.  But  now  the  coming  of  Chrift  being  very  nigh, 
the  morning-ftar  comes  before  him,  thebrightell  of  all 
the  ftars,  as  John  the  Baptift  was  the  greateft  of  all 
the  prophets. . 

And  when  Chrift  came  in  his  public  miniftry,  the 
light  of  that  morning-ftar  decreafed  too ;  as  we  fee, 
when  the  fun  rifes,  it  diminifties  the  light  of  the  morn- 
ing-ftar. So  John  the  Baptift  fays  of  himfelf,  John  iii. 
30.  "He  muft  increafe,  but  I  muft  decreafe."  AncJ 
foon  after  Chrift  began  his  public  m.iniftry,  John  the 
Baptift  was  put  to  death  ;  as  the  morning-ftar  is  vifible 
9  little  while  after  the  fun  is  rifen,  yet  foon  goes  cut. 

2.  The  next  thing  to  be  taken  notice  of  is  Chrift's 
fntrance  on  his  public  miniftry,  w^hich  was  by  baptifm, 
followed  with  the  temptation  in  the  wildernefs.  His 
baptifm  was  as  it  were  his  folem.n  inauguration,  by 
^vhich  he  entered  on  his  miniftry ;  and  was  attended  with 
his  being  anointed  -with  the  Holy  Ghoft,  in  a  folem.n 
and  vifible  manner,  the  Holy  Ghoft  defcending  upon 
him  in  a  vifible  fhape  like  a  dove,  attended  with  a  voice 
from  Heaven,  faying,  "  lliis  is  my  beloved  Son,  ii"^ 
*'  whom  I  am  well  plcafcd,"  Matth.  iii.  16.  17. 

After  this  he  was  led  by  the  Devil  into  the  wildernefs. 
Satan  made  a  violent  onfet  upon  him  at  his  firft  entranca 

9H 


Part  II.  3.  The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    215 

Oti  his  work  ;  and  now  he  had  a  remarkable  trial  of  his 
obedience  but  he  got  the  viftory.  He  who  had  fiich 
fuccers  with  the  firll  Adam,  had  none  with  the  fecond. 

3.  I  would  take  notice  of  the  work  in  ^^•hich  Chrill 
was  employed  during  his  miniflrv.  And  here  ^xc.  three 
things  chiefly  to  be  taken  notice  of,  viz.  his  preaching, 
his  working  miracles,  and  his  calling  and  appointing 
difciples  and  minillers  of  his  kingdom. 

(1.)  His  preaching  the  gofpel.  Great  part  of  the 
work  of  his  public  miniilry  confifted  in  this;  and  much 
of  that  obedience  by  which  he  purchafed  falvation  for 
us,  was  in  his  fpeaking  thofe  things  which  the  Father 
commanded  him.  He  more  clearly  and  abundantly  re- 
vealed the  mind  and  will  of  God,  than  ever  it  had 
been  revealed  before.  He  came  from  the  bofom  of  the 
Father,  and  perfeftly  knew  his  mind,  and  was  in  the 
beft  capacity  to  reveal  it.  As  the  fun,  as  foon  as  it  is 
rifen,  begins  to  fhine ;  fo  ChriO,  as  foon  as  he  came  in- 
to his  public  miniitry,  began  to  enlighten  the  world 
with  his  doflrine.  As  the  law  was  given  at  Mount  Si- 
nai, fo  Chrift  delivered  his  evangelic  doctrine,  full  of 
blefTmgs,  and  not  curfes,  to  a  multitude  on  a  mountain, 
as  we  have  an  account  in  the  ^th,  6th,  and  7th  chap- 
ters of  Matthew. 

When  he  preached,  he  did  not  teach  as  the  fcribes^ 
but  he  taught  as  one  having  authority  ;  fo  that  his 
hearers  were  aft oniihed  at  his  do6h  ine.  He  did  not  re- 
veal the  mind  and  will  of  God  in  the  ftyle  which  the 
prophets  ufed  to  preach,  as  not  fpeaking  their  own 
words,  but  the  words  of  another ;  and  ufed  to  fpeak  in 
fucha  ftyle  as  this,  "  Thus  faith  the  Lord;"  butChriit 
in  fuch  a  ftyle  as  this,  "  I  fay  unto  you,"  thus,  or 
thus;  *'  Verily,  verily,  I  fay  unto  you."  He  delivered 
liis  do8rines,  not  only  as  the  doctrines  of  God  the 
Feather,  but  as  his  own  doftrines.  He  gave  forth  his 
commands,  not  as  the  prophets  were  wont  to  do,  as 
God's  commands,  but  ashisowrrconunands.  Hefpake 
in  fuch  a  ftyle  as  this,  "  This  is  wv  commandmait^''  John 
XV.  12.  "Ye  are  my  friends  if  )e  <\o  wliatfoever  I 
"  command  you,"  ibid.  1^. 

(2.)  Another  thing  that  Chrift  was  emploved  in  (iu- 
ring  the  courie  of  his  miniftr\-,  was  workinr  miracles- 
Conccrnir-g  ^hich  we  ^la^•  obr;^rvc  fcvcral  things. 

l"heiv 


2i6  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Period  IL 

Their  ?nultitude.  Eefides  particular  inftances,  we 
often  have  an  account  of  multitudes  coming  at  once 
with  difeafes,  and  his  healing  them. 

They  were  zvorks  of  mercy.  In  them  w?,s  difplaycd 
not  only  his  infinite  power  and  greatnefs,  but  .his  mfi- 
nite  mercy  and  goodnefjs-  He  went  about  doing  good, 
healing  the  fick,  reftoring  fight  to  the  blind,  hearing  to 
the  deaf,  and  the  proper  ufe  of  their  limbs  to  the  lame 
and  hault ;  feeding  the  hungry,  cleanfing  the  leprous, 
and  raifing  the  dead. 

They  were  almoft  all  of  them  fuch  as  had  hem  fpo^ 
ken  of  as  the  peculiar  zvorks  of  God,  in  the  Old  Tella- 
ment.  So  with  refpeft  to  ftillmg  the  fea,  Pfal.  cvii.  29^ 
*•  He  maketh  the  ftorm  a  calm,  fo  that  the  waves  there- 
*•  of  are  dilL"  So  as  to  walking  on  the  fea  in  a  fioim  r 
Job  ix.  8.  *'  Which  alone — treadelh  upon  the  waves 
*'  of  the  fea."  So  as  to  cafling  out  Devils :  Pfal.  Ixxiv. 
14.  "  Thou  breakefl:  the  heads  of  Leviathan  in  pieces." 
So  as  to  feeding  a  multitude  in  a  wildcrnefs :  Deut.  viii. 
16.  "  Who  fed  thee  in  the  v/ildernefs  with  manna."  So 
as  to  telling  man's  thoughts:  Amos  iv.  13.  *'  Lo  he 
**  that — declareth  unto  man  what  is  his  thought — — 
*'  the  Lord,  the  God  of  hofts  is  his  name."  So  as  to 
raifing  the  dead  :  Pfal.  Ixviii.  20.  "  Unto  God  the  Lord 
"  belong  the  iffues  from  death.'*  So  as  to  opening  the 
eyes  of  the  blind  :  Pfal.  cxlvi.  8.  "The  Lord  opcneth 
"  the  eyes  of  the  blind."  So  as  to  healing  the  fick  : 
Pfal,  ciii.  3.  "  W^ho healeth  all  thy  difeafes."  So  asto 
lifting  up  thofe  who  are  bowed  together:  Pfal.  cxlvi. 
8.  "  The  Lord  raifeth  them  that  are  bowed  down." 

They  were  in  general  fuch  works  as  were  images  of 
the  great  work  which  he  came  to  work  on  7?ians  heart ;  re- 
prefenting  that  inward,  fpiritual  cleanfing,  healing,  re- 
novation, and  refurreftion,  which  all  his  redeemed  are 
the  fubje61s  of. 

He  wrought  them  in  fuch  a  7nanner  as  tofiow,  that  he 
did  them  by  his  own  power,  and  not  by  the  power  of  an- 
other, as  the  other  prophets  did.  They  were  wont  to 
work  all  their  miracles  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;  but 
Chrill  wrought  in  his  own  nam.e.  Mofes  was  forbidden 
to  enter  into  Canaan,  becaufe  he  feemedby.  his  fpeecli 
to  afiiime  the  honor  of  working  only  one  miracle  to 
himfelf.     Nor  did  Chrift  work  miracles  as  the  apofllcs 

did, 


PartII.3.    The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.     217 

did,  who  wrought  them  all  in  the  name  of  Chrift ;  but 
he  wrought  them  in  his  own  name,  and  by  his  own 
authority  and  will :  Thus,  faith  he,  "  I  will  be  thou 
*►'  clean,"  Matth.  viii.  3.  And  in  the  fame  llrain  he 
put  the  queftion,  "  Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to  do 
"  this?"     Matth.  ix.  28. 

(3.)  Another  thing  that  Chrift  did  in  the  courfe  of 
his  miniftry,  was  to  call  his  difciples.  He  called  many 
difciples.  There  were  many  that  he  employed  as  mi- 
nifters ;  he  fent  feventy  difciples  at  one  time  in  this 
work :  but  there  were  twelve  that  he  fet  apart  as  apo- 
ftles,  who  were  the  grand  minifters  of  his  kingdom, 
and  as  it  were  the  twelve  foundations  of  his  church. 
See  Rev.  xxi.  14.  Thefe  were  the  main  inftruments  of 
fettingup  his  kingdom  in  the  world,  and  therefore  fhall 
fit  on  twelve  thrones,  judging  the  twelve  tribes  of  If-* 
rael. 

4.  I  would  obfers^e  how  he  finifhed  his  miniftry. — • 
And  this  was, 

(1.)  In  giving  his  dying  counfels  to  his  difciples,  and 
all  that  (hould  be  his  difciples,  which  we  have  recorded 
particularly  in  the  14th,  15th,  and  16th  chapters  of 
John's  gofpel. 

(2.)  In  inftituting  a  folemn  memorial  of  his  death. 
This  he  did  in  inftituting  the  facrament  of  the  Lord's 
fupper,  wherein  we  have  a  reprefentation  of  his  body 
broken,  and  of  his  blood  fhed. 

(3.)  In  offering  up  himfelf,  as  God's  high  prieft,  2 
facrifice  to  God,  which  he  did  in  his  laft  fufferings. 
This  aft  he  did  as  God's  minifter,  as  God's  anointed 
prieft ;  and  it  was  the  greateft  aft  of  his  public  miniftry, 
the  greateft  aft  of  his  obedience,  by  which  he  purchafed 
heaven  for  believers.  The  priefts  of  old  ufed  to  do 
many  other  things  as  God's  minifters ;  but  then  were 
they  in  the  higheft  execution  of  their  office  when  they 
were  aftually  offering  facrifiqe  on  the  altar.  So  the 
greateft  thing  that  Chrift  did  in  the  execution  of  his 
prieftly  office,  and  the  greateft  thing  that  he  ever  did, 
and  the  greateft  thing  that  ever  was  done,  was  the  of- 
fering up  himfelf  a  facrifice  to  God.  Herein  he  was 
the  antetype  of  all  that  had  been  done  by  all  the  priefts, 
and  in  all  their  facrifices  and  offerings,  from  the  begin t 
uiqgr  of  the  world. 


2i8  A   HISTORY   of  Period  It- 

III.  The  third  diftribution  of  the  ?.B.s  by  which 
Chrift  purchared  redemption,  regards  the  virtues  that 
Chriji  excrajdd  and  manifejled  in  them.     And  here  I 
would  obferve,  that  Chrill  in  doing  the  work  that  he 
had  to  do  here  in  the  world  for  our  redemption,  exer- 
cifed  every  poffible  virtue  and  grace.     Indeed  there  are 
fome  particular  virtues  that  finful  m^an  may  have,   that 
were  not  in  Chrifl ;  not  from  any  want  or  defe6l  of 
»^  t^irtue,  but  becaufe  his  virtue  was  perfeft  and  without 
defeft.     Such  is  the  virtue  of  repentance,  and  broken- 
iiefs  of  heart  for  fin,  and  mortification,  and  denying  of 
luft.     Thofe  virtues  were  not  in  Chrift,  becaufe  he  had 
no  fin  of  his  own  to  repent  of,  nor  any  luft  to   deny. 
But  all  virtues  which  do   not  pre-fuppofe  fin,  were  in 
him,  and  that  in  a  higher  degree  than  ever  they  were 
in  any  other  man,  or  any  mere  creature.     Every  virtue 
in  him  was  perfeft.     Virtue  itfelf  was  greater  in  him 
than  in  any  other ;   and   it  was  under  greater  advanta- 
ges to  fhine  in  him  than  in  any  other.     Strift  virtue 
fhines  moft  when  moft  tried  :  but  never  any  virtue  had 
fuch  trials  as  Chrift's  had. 

The  virtue  that  Chrift  exercifed  in  the  work  he  did, 

may  be  divided  into  three  forts,  viz.  the  virtues  which 

more  immediately  refpeft  Gpd,  thofe  which  immedi- 

'  ately  refpeft  himfelf,  and  thofe  which  immediately  re- 

fpect  men. 

1 .  Thofe  virtues  that  more  hnmediately  refptB  God^ 
appeared  in  Chrift  in  the  work  that  he  did  for  our  re- 
demption.    There  appeared  in  him  an  holy  fear  and 
reverence  towards  God  the  Father.    Ghrift  had  a  great- 
er trial  of  his  virtue  in  this  refpect  than  any  other  had, 
from  the  honourablenefs  of  his  perfon.     This  w^as  the 
temptation  of  the  angels  that  fell,  to  caft  off  their  wor- 
fhip  of  God,  and  reverence  of  his  majefty,  that  they 
were  beings   of  fuch  exalted  dignity  and  worthinefs 
themfelves.    But  Chrift  was  infinitely  more  worthy  and 
honourable  than  they;  for  he  was  the  eternal  Son  of  God, 
and  his  perfon  was  equal  to  the  perfon  of  God  the  Fa- 
ther :  and  yet,  as  he  had  taken  on  him  the  office  of  me- 
diator, and  the  nature  of  man,  he  was  full  of  reverence 
towards  God.     He  adored  him  in  the  moft  reverential 
manner  time  after  time.     So  he  manifefted  a  wonderful 
love  towards  God.     The  angels  give  great  teftimonies 

of 


PartII.3.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     219 

of  their  love  towards  God,  in  their  conftancy  and  agi- 
lity in  doing  the  will  of  God ;  and  many  faints  have 
given  great  teflimonics  of  their  love,  who,  from  love 
to  God,  have  endured  great  labours  and  fufferings  : 
but  none  ever  gave  fuch  teflimonies  of  love  to  God  as 
Chrift  has  given ;  none  ever  performed  fuch  a  labour 
of  love  as  he,  and  fuffered  fo  much  from  love  to  Gpd. 
So  he  manifelled  the  moft  wonderful  fubmilTioji  to  the 
will  of  God.  Never  was  any  one's  fiibmilhon  fo  tried 
as  his  w^as.  So  he  manifefled  the  moll  wonderful  fpi- 
rit  of  obedience  that  ever  was  manifefted. 

2.  In  this  work  he  moft  wonderfully  m.anifefted  thofe 
virtues  which  ??iore  immediately  rejpeded  himfelf\  as  par- 
ticularly humility,  patience,  and  contempt  of  the  world, 
Chrift,  though  he  w^as  the  moft  excellent  and  honour- 
able of  all  men,  yet  was  the  moft  humble  j  yea,  he  was 
the  moft  humble  of  all  creatures.     No  angel  or  man 
ever  equalled  him  in  humility,  though  he  was  the  high- 
eft  of  all  creatures   in  dignity  and  honourablenefs.— 
Chrift  would  have  been  under  the  greateft  temptations 
to  pride,  if  it  had  been  pofTible  for  any  thing  to  be  z, 
temptation  to  him.     The  temptation  of  the  angels  that 
fell  w^as  the  dignity  of  their  nature,   and  the  honoura- 
blenefs of  their  circumftances ;  but  Chrift  w-as  infinite- 
ly more  honourable  than  they.     The  human  nature  of 
Chrift  was  fo  honoured  as  to  be  in  the  fame  perfon  with 
the  eternal  Son  of  God,  who  was  equal  w^ith  God;  and 
yet  that  human  nature  was  not  at  ^11  lifted  up  with 
pride.     Nor  w^as  the  man  Chrift  Jefus  at  all  lifted  up 
with  pride  with  all  thofe  wonderful  works  which  he. 
wrought,   of  healing  the  Tick,  curing  the  blind,  lame, 
and  maimed,  and  raifmg  the  dead.     And  though  he 
knew  that  God  had  appointed  him  to  be  the  king  over 
heaven  and  earth,  angels  and  men,  as  he  fays,  Matth. 
xi.  27.  "  All  things  are  delivered  unto  me  of  my  Fa- 
V  ther ;"  though  he  knew  he  was  fuch  an  infinitely  ho- 
nourable perfon,  and  thought  it   not   robber)'^  to  be 
equal  with  God  ;  and  though  he  knew  he  was  the  heir 
of  God  the  Father's  kingdom  :  yet  fuch  w^as  his  humi- 
lity, that  he  did  not  difdain  to  be  abafed  and  depreflcd 
down  into  lower  and  viler  circumftances  and  fuftcrings 
than  ever  any  other  elect  creature  was ;  fo  that  he  be- 
came leaft  of  all,  and  lo^vcft  of  all.     The  proper  tri-4 
B  b  2  m^ 


220  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  OF  Period  IL 

and  evidence  of  humility,  is  ftooping  or  complying  with 
thofe  acts  or  circumftances,  when  called  to  it,  which 
are  very  low,  and  contain  great  abafement.  But  none 
ever  (looped  fo  low  as  Chrilt,  if  we  confider  either  the 
infinite  height  that  he  {looped  from,  or  the  great  depth 
to  which  he  ftooped.  Such  was  his  humility,  that  though 
he  knew  his  infinite  worthinefs  of  honour,  and  of  be- 
ing honoured  ten  thoufand  times  as  much  as  the  higheft 
prince  on  earth,  or  angel  in  heaven;  yet  he  did  not  think 
it  too  much  when  called  to  it,  to  be  bound  as  a  curfed 
malefactor,  and  to  become  the  laughing-ftock  and  fpit- 
ting-llock  of  the  vileft  of  men,  and  to  be  crowned  with 
thorns,  and  to  have  a  mock-robe  put  upon  him,  and 
to  be  crucified  like  a  flave  and  malefactor,  and  as  one 
of  the  meaneft  and  worft  of  vagabonds  and  mifcreants, 
and  an  accurfed  enemy  of  God  and  men,  who  was  not 
fit  to  live  on  the  earth  ;  and  this  not  for  himfelf,  but 
for  fome  of  the  meaneft  and  vileft  of  creatures,  fome 
of  thofe  accurfed  wretches  that  crucified  him.  Was 
not  this  a  wonderful  manifeftation  of  humility,  when 
Jie  chearfully  and  moft  freely  fubmitted  to  this  abafe- 
ment ?    •  ■  ■•  i.  ■-■ 

And  how  did  his  patience  fhine  forth  under  all  the 
terrible  fufferings  which  he  endured,  when  he  was 
dumb,  and  opened  not  his  mouth,  but  went  as  a  lamb 
to  the  flaughter,  and  was  like  a  patient  iamb  under  all 
the  fufferings  he  endured  from  firft  to  laft.    ^ 

And  what  contempt  of  the  glory  of  this  world  was 
there,  when  he  rather  chofe  this  contempt,  and  mean- 
nefs,  and  fuffering,  thaii  to  wear  a  temporal  crown, 
and  be  invefted  with  the  external  glories  of  an  earthly 
prince,  as  the  multitude  often  folicited  him. 

3.  Chrift,  in  the  work  which  he  wrought  out,  in  a 
wonderful  manner  exercifed  thofe  virtues  which  more 
t?nmediatcly  re/peB  other  men.  ^  And  thefe  maybefum- 
med  up  under. two  heads,  viz.  meeknefs,  and  love. 

CJirift's  meeknefs  was  his  humble  calmnefs  of  fpirit 
under  the  provocations  that  he  met  with.  None  ever 
tnet  with  fo  great  provocations  as  he  did.  The  great- 
nefs  of  provocation  lies  in  two  things,  viz.  in  the  de- 
gree of  oppofition  by  which  the  provocation  is  given  ; 
and,  fecondly,  in  the  degree  of  the  unreafona^lenefs  of 
tliat  oppofition,  or  in  its  being  very  caufelefs,  and  with- 
out 


Part  II.  3.  The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.   221 

out  reafon,  and  the  great  degree  of  obligation  to  the  crji- 
Irary.  Now,  if  v/c  coiifider  both  thcfc  things,  no  man 
ever  net  with  fuch  provocations  as  Chrill  did,  when 
he  was  upon  earth.  If  we  confider  how  much  lie  was 
hated,  what  abufes  he  fuffered  from  the  vileft  of  men, 
how  gr^eat  his  lufi'erings  from  m.en  were,  and  how 
fpiteful  and  how  contemptuous  they  were,  in  offering 
him  ihefe  abufes ;  and  alfo  confider  how  caufelefs  and 
ira-ieafonable  thefe  abufes  were,  how  undcferving  he 
was  of  them,  and  how  much  deferving  of  the  contrar}-, 
viz.  of  love,  and  honor,  and  good  treatment  at  their 
hands  :  I  fay,  if  we  confider  thefe  things,  no  man  ever 
met  with  a  thoufandth  part  of  the  provocation  that 
Chrifl  met  with  from  men  :  and  yet  how  meek  was  he 
^nder  all !  how  compofed  and  quiet  his  fpirit !  how  far 
from  being  in  a  ruffle  and  tumult !  When  he  was  re- 
viled, he  reviled  not  again  ;  and  as  a  fheep  before  her 
fhearers  is  dumb,  fo  fie  opened  not  his  mouth.  No  ap- 
pearance was  there  of  a  revengeful  fpirit :  on  the  con- 
trary, what  a  fpirit  of  forgivenefs  did  he  exhibit !  fo 
tliat  he  fervently  and  effedually  prayed  for  their  for- 
givenefs, when  they  were  in  the  highefl  aft  of  provo- 
cation that  ever  they  perpetrated,  viz.  nailing  him  to 
the  crofs  :  Luke  xxiii.  34.  "  Father,  forgive  them  ; 
*'  for  they  know  not  what  they  do." 

And  never  did  there  appear  fuch  an  inftance  of  love 
to  men.  Chrifl's  love  to  men  that  he  ffiowed  when  on 
earth,  and  cfpecially  in  going  through  his  lafl  fuffer- 
ings,  and  offering  up  his  life  and  foul  under  thofe  fuf- 
ferings,  which  was  his  greateft  a6f  of  love,  was  far  be- 
yond all  parallel!  There  have  been  very  remarkable 
manifeffations  of  love  in  fome  of  the  faints,  as  in  the 
Apoffl.e  Paul,  the  Apoflle  John,  and  others ;  but  the 
love  to  men  that  Chrifl  fhowed  when  on  earth,  as  much 
exceeded  the  love  of  all  other  men,  as  the  ocean  ex- 
ceeds a  fmall  flream. 

And  it  is  to  be  obferved,  that  all  tlie  virtues  wliich 
appeared  in  Chriff,  fhone  brightcft  in  the  clofe  of  his 
life,  under  the  trials  he  met  with  then.  Eminent  vir- 
tue always  fhows  brighteff  in  the  fire.  Pure  gold  fhows 
its  purity  chiefly  in  the  furnace.  It  was  chiefly  under 
thofe  trials  which  Chrilf  underwent  in  the  clofe  of  his 
U^e,  that  his  love  to  God,  his  honor  of  God's  majcfiy, 

and 


£^23  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  IL 

^nd  liis  regard  to  the  honor  of  his  law,  and  his  fpirit 
of  obedience,  and  his  humility,  and  contempt  of  the 
world,  and  his  patience,  and  his  meeknefs,  and  his 
fpirit  of  forgivenefs  towards  men,  appeared.  Indeed 
every  thing  that  Chrifl  did  to  work  out  redemption  for 
lis  appears  mainly  in  the  clofe  of  his  life.  Here  mainly 
is  his  liatisfaftion  for  fm,  and  here  chiefly  is  his  merit 
of  eternal  life  for  fmners,  and  here  chiefly  appears  the 
brightnefs  of  his  example,  which  he  hath  fetus  to  fol- 
low. 

Thus  we  have  taken  a  brief  view  of  the  things 
whereby  the  purchafe  of  redemption  was  made  with 
lefpeft  to  his  rightcovfnefs  that  appeared  in  them.- — \ 
proceed  now, 

^11.  To  take  a  view  of  them  with  refpeft  to  theja- 
iisfaBion  that  he  thereby  made  for  fm,  or  xho-fafferings 
and  kiuniliaticn  that  he  was  the  fubje6f  of  in  them  on 
our  account.     And  here, 

I.  He  was  fubjeft  to  uncommon  humiliation  and  fuf- 
ferings  in  his  infancy.  He  was  born  to  that  end  that 
he  might  die ;  and  therefore  he  did  as  it  were  begin  io 
ilie  as  foon  as  he  was  born.  His  mother  fuffered  in  ai| 
nncommon  manner  in  bearing  him.  When  her  travail 
came  upon  her,  it  is  faid,  "  there  was  no  room  in  the 
^'  inn,"  Luke  ii.  7.  She  was  forced  to  betake  herfelf 
to  a  ftable  ;  and  therefore  Chrill  was  born  in  the  place 
of  the  bringing  forLh  of  beafls.  Thus  he  fuffered  in 
bis  birth,  as  though  he  had  been  meaner  and  viler  than 
a  man,  and  not  poflefled  of  the  dignity  of  the  human 
nature,  but  had  been  of  the  rank  of  the  brute  crea- 
tures. And  we  miay  conclude,  that  his  mother's  cir- 
cumilances  in  other  refpefts  were  proportionably  ftrait 
and  dilHcult,  and  that  fhe  was  deftitute  of  the  conve- 
iiiencies  neceflaiy  for  fo  young  an  infant  which  others 
^vere  wont  to  have  ;  for  want  of  ^v'hich  the  new-borii 
babe  without  doubt  fuffered  much. 

And  befides,  he  was  perfecuted  in  his  i infancy.  They 
began  to  feck  his  life  as  foon  as  he  was  born.  Herod, 
the  chief  man  of  the  land,  was  fo  engaged  to  kill  him, 
ihar,  in  order  to  it,  he  killed  all  the  children  in  Beth- 
lehem, and  in  all  the  coalls  thereof,  from  two  years 
old  and  under.  And  Chrifl:  fuffered  banifhment  in  his 
infancy,  was    driven  out  of  his  native  country   intq 


Part  II.  3-    The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION   223 

Egypt,  and  without  doubt  fuffcrcd  much  by  being  car- 
ried fo  long  a  journey,  when  he  was  fo  young,  nito  a 
ftrange  country. 

II.  Chrift  was  fubjeft  to  great  humiUation  in  his  pri- 
vate Ufe  at  Nazareth.     He  there  led  a  fcrvilc  obfcure 
life,  in  a  mean  laborious  occupation  u  for  he  is  called 
not  Only  the  carpenter  s  Jon,  but  the  carpenttr  :  Mark 
vi.  3.  "  Is  not  this  the  carpenter,  the  brother  of  James 
**  and  Jofes,  and  Juda,  and   Simon  ?"    He,  by  hard 
labour  earned  his  bread  before  he  ate  it,  and  fo  fuffer- 
ed  that  curfe  which  God  pronounced  on  Adam,  Gen, 
iii.  13.  *'  In  the  fweat  of  thy  face  fhalt  thou  eat  bread." 
Let  us  confider  how  great  a  degree  of  humiliation  the 
glorious  Son  of  God,  the  creator  of  Heaven  and  earth, 
was  fubjeft  to  in  this,  that  for  about  thirty  years  he 
Ihould  live  a  private  obfcure  life  among  labouring  men, 
2JI&  all  this  while  be  overlooked,  and  not  taken  notice 
of  in  the  world,  as  more  than  other  common  labourers. 
Chrili's  humiliation  in  fome  refpefts  was  greater  in  pri- 
vate life  than  in  the  time  of  his  public  miniftry.   There 
were  many  manifeftations  of  his  glory  in  the  woi  d  he 
preached,  and  the  great  miracles  he  wrought :  but  the 
iirft  thirty  years  of  his  life  he  fpent  among  mean  ordi- 
nary men,  as  it  were  in  filence,  without  thofe  manifef- 
tations of  his  glory,  or  any  thing  to  make  him  to  Ix; 
taken  notice  of  more  than  any  ordinaiy  mechanic,  but 
only  the  fpotlefs  purity  and  eminent  holinefs  of  his  life ; 
and  that  was  in  a  great  meafure  hid  in  obfcurity  ;  fa 
that  he  was  little  taken  notice  of  till  after  his  baptifm. 
III.  Chrift  was  the  fubjeft  of  great  humiliation  and 
fuffering  during  his  public   life,  from    his  baptifm  till 
the  night  wherein  he  was  betrayed.     As  particularly, 
1.  He  fuffered  great  poverty,    fo  that  he  had  noi 
*'  where  to  lay  his  head,"  Matth.   viii.  20.  and  com- 
monly ufed  to  lodge  abroad  in  the  open  air,  for  want 
of  a  (lielter  to  betake  himfelf  to  ;  as  you  will  fee  is  ma- 
nifeft,  if  you  compare    the  following  places  together, 
which  I  Ihall  but  name  to  you,  even  Matth.  viii.  20. 
and  John  xviii.  1.2.  and  Luke  xxi.  37.  and  ch.  xxii- 
39.     So  that  what  was  fpoken  of  Chrilt  in  Cant.  v.  2. 
*'   My  head  is  filled  with  dew,  and  my  locks  with  the 
*'  drops  of  the  night,"   was  literally  fulfilled.     And 
through  his  poverty  he  doubtlefs  was    often  pinched 
with  hunger,  and  third,  and  cold.     We  read,  Matth. 

iv. 


224  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  Ih 

iv.  2.  that  he  was  an  huiigred  :  and  To  again  in  Matth, 
xxi.  18.  His  mother  and  natural  relations  were  poor, 
and  not  able  to  help  him ;  and  he  was  maintained  by 
the  charity  of  fome  of  his  difciples  while  he  lived.  So 
we  read  in  Luke  viii.  at  the  beginning,  of  certain  wo> 
men  that  followed  him,  and  miniflered  to  him  of  their 
fubllance.  He  was  fo  poor,  that  he  was  not  able  to 
pay  the  tribute  that  was  demanded  of  him,  without  the 
miraculous  coming  of  a  fiih  to  bring  him  the  money 
out  of  the  fea  in  his  mouth.  See  Matth.  xvii.  27.  And 
when  he  ate  his  laft  paffover  it  was  not  at  his  own  charge, 
but  at  the  charge  of  another,  as  appears  by  Luke  xxii. 
y.  &c.  And  from  his  poverty  he  had  no  grave  of  his 
own  to  be  buried  in.  It  was  the  manner  of  the  Jews, 
unlefs  they  were  very  poor,  and  were  not  able,  to  pre- 
pare themfelves  a  fepulchre  while  they  lived.  But 
Chrift  had  no  land  of  his  own,  though  he  was  pofleflbr 
of  heaven  and  earth ;  and  therefore  was  buried  by  Jo- 
feph  of  Arimathea's  charity,  and  in  his  tomb,  which 
he  had  prepared  for  himfelf. 

2.  He  fuffered  great  hatred  and  reproach.  He  was. 
defpifed  and  rejefted  of  men.  He  was  by  moft  efteem- 
ed  a  poor  infignificant  perfon ;  one  of  little  account, 
flighted  for  his  low  parentage,  and  his  mean  city  Na- 
zareth. He  was  reproached  as  a  glutton  and  drunkard, 
a  friend  of  publicans  andfinners;  was  called  a  deceiver 
of  the  people  ;  fometimes  was  called  a  madman,  and  a 
Samaritan,  and  one  ppirefTed  with  a  Devil,  John  vii.  20. 
and  viii.  48.  and  x.'  20.  He  was  called  a  blafphemer, 
and  was  accounted  by  many  a  wizzard,  or  one  that 
wrought  miracles  by  the  black  art,  and  by  communica- 
tion with  Beelzebub.  They  excommunicated  him,  and 
agreed  to  excommunicate  any  man  that  fliould  own 
him,  as,  John  ix.  22.  They  wilhed  him  dead,  and 
were  continually  feeking  to  murder  him;  fometimes  by 
force  and  fometimes  by  craft.  They  often  took  up 
ftones  to  ftone  him,  and  once  led  him  to  the  brow  of  a 
hill,  intending  to  throw  him  down  the  precipice,  to 
dalh  him  in  pieces  againll  the  rocks. 

He  was  thus  hated  and  reproached  by  his  own  vifible 
people:  John  i.  11.  "  He  came  to  his  own,  and  his 
*'  own  received  him  not."  And  he  was  principally  def- 
pifed and  hated  by  thofe  who  were  in  chief  repute,  and 
were  their  grcatelt  men.     And  the  hatred  wherewith* 

he 


Partll.  3-     TiieWorkof  redemption.     225 

he  was  hated  was  general.  Into  whatever  part  of  the 
land  he  went,  he  met  with  hatred  and  contempt.  He 
met  with  thefe  in  Capernaum,  and  when  he  went  to  Je- 
richo, when  he  went  to  Jerufalem,  wliicli  was  tlie  lioly 
city,  when  he  went  to  the  temple  to  wor(hip,  and  alfo  in 
Nazareth,  his  own  city,  and  among  his  own  relations, 
and  his  old  neiorhbours. 

o 

3.  He  fufFcred  the  buffetings  of  Satan  in  an  uncom- 
mon manner.  We  read  of  one  time  in  particular,  when 
he  had  a  long  conflift  with  the  devil,  when  he  was  in  the 
wildernefs  forty  days,  with  nothing  but  wild  beads  and 
devils ;  and  was  fo  expofed  to  the  devil's  power,  that. 
he  was  bodily  carried  about  by  him  from  pi  ace  to  place, 
while  he  was  otherwife  in  a  very  fufTering  flate. 

And  fo  much  for  the  humiHation  and  fuffering  of 
Chrift's  public  life  from  his  baptifm  to  the  night  where- 
in he  was  betrayed. 

IV.  I  come  now  to  his  lafi  humiliation  and  fuflferings, 
from  the  evening  of  the  night  wherein  he  was  betra)'ed 
to  his  refurreftion.  And  here  was  his  greateft  humi- 
liation and  fufTering,  by  which  principally  he  made  fa- 
tisfa6lion  to   the  juftice  of  God  for  the  fms  of  mcn. 

Firft,  his  life  was  fold  by  one  of  his  ov/n  difeiples  for 
thirty  pieces  of  fdver,  which  was  the  price  of  the  life 
of  a  fervant,  as  you  may  fee  in  Exod.  xxi.  32.  Then 
he  was  in  that  dreadful  agony  in  the  garden.  There 
came  fuch  a  difmal  gloom  upon  his  foul,  that  be  began 
to  be  forrowful  and  very  heavy,  and  faid,  his  "  Soul 
*'  was  exceeding  forrowful,  even  unto  death,  and  was 
*'  fore  amazed."  So  violent  \vas  the  agony  of  his 
foul,  as  to  force  the  blood  through  the  pores  of  his 
fkin ;  fo  that  while  his  foul  was  overwhelmed  with 
amazing  forrow,  his  body  was  all  clotted  with  blood. 
The  difeiples,  who  ufed  to  be  as  his  friends  and  fa- 
mily, at  this  time  above  all  appeared  cold  towards 
him,  and  unconcerned  for  him,  at  the  fame  time  that 
his  Father's  face  was  hid  from  him.  Judas,  to  whom 
Chrift  had  been  fo  very  merciful,  and  treated  as  one  o£ 
his  family  or  familiar  friends,  comes  and  betrays  him 
in  the  moft  deceitful,  treacherous  manner.  The  offi- 
cers and  foldiers  apprehend  and  bind  him  ;  his  difeiples 
forfake  him,  and  flee;  his  own  heft  friends  do  not 
ftand  by  him  to  comfort  him  in  this  time  of  his  diftrefs, 
C  c  He 


226  A  HISTORY    of  Period IL 

He  is  led  away  as  a  malefactor  to  appear  before  the 
priefis  and  fcribes,  his  venemov.s,.  mortal  enemies,  thatr 
they  might  fit  as  his  judges,  who  fat  up  all  night,  to 
have  the  pleafure  of  inluhing  him,  now  they  had  got 
him  into  their  hands.  But  becaufe  they  aimed  at  no- 
thing Ihort  of  his  life,  they  fet  therafelves  to  find  feme 
colour  to  put  him  to  death,  and  feek  for  witneffes  againft 
him.  When  none  appeared,  they  fet  fom.e  to  bear  faife 
witnefs ;  and  when  their  witnefs  did  not  agree  toge- 
ther, then  they  go  to  examining  him,  to  catch  fome- 
thing  out  of  his  own  mouth.  They  hoped  he  would 
fa)%  that  he  was  the  Son  of  God,  and  then  they  thought 
they  fhould  have  enough.  But  becaufe  they  fee  they 
are  not  like  to  obtain  it  without  it,  they  then  go  to 
force  him  to  fay  it,  by  adjuring  him,  in  the  name  of 
Ood,  to  fay  whether  he  was  or  not :  and  when  he  con- 
feffed  that  he  was,  then  they  fuppofed  they  had  enough; 
and  then  it  was  a  time  of  rejoicing  \vith  them,  which 
tliey  {how,  by  fallii^g  upon  Chrilt,  and  fpitting  in  his 
face,  and  blindfolding  him,  and  ffriking  him  in  the  face 
with  tlie  palms  of  their  hands,  and  then  bidding  hira 
prophecy  who  it  was  that  ftruck  him  ;  thus  ridiculing 
him  for  pretending  to  be  a  prophet.  And  the  very  fer- 
vants  have  a  hand  ui  the  fport :  Mark  xiv.  65,  *'  And  the 
*'  fervants  did  llrike  him  with  the  palms  of  their  hands.'* 
During  the  fiifferings  of  that  night,  Peter,  one  of 
the  chief  of  his  o\/n  difciples,  inftead  of  flanding  by 
him  to  com.fort  him,  appears  alhamed  to  own  him,  and 
denies  and  renounces  him  with  oaths  and  curfes.  And 
after  the  chief  priefts  and  elders  had  finifhed  the  niglrt 
in  fo  (hamefully  abufmg  him,  when  the  morning  was 
come,  which  was  the  morning  of  the  moft  wonderful 
day  that  ever  v/as,  they  led  him  away  to  Pilate,  to  be 
condemned  to  death  by  him,  becaufe  they  had  not  the 
power  of  life  and  death  in  their  own  hands.  He  is 
brought  before  Pilate's  judgment-feat,  and  there  the 
prielts  and  elders  accufe  him  as  a  traitor.  And  when 
Pilate,  upon  examining  into  the  matter,  declared  he 
found  no  fault  in  him,  the  Jews  were  but  the  more 
fierce  and  violent  to  have  liim  condemned.  Upon 
which  Pilate,  after  clearing  him,  very  unjuftly  brings 
him  upon  a  fccond  trial )  and  then  not  finding  any  thing 
againlt  him,  accjuits  him  again»    Pilate  treats  him  as  a 

poor, 


P^rt  II.  3.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    227 

poor,  wortlilefs  fellow  ;  but  is  afhamcdon  fo  iitilc  pre- 
tence to  concleiiiii  him  i)«  a  traitor. 

And  then  he  was  fent  to  Herod  to  be  tried  by  him, 
and  was  brought  betore  Herod's  judgment-feat ;  and 
his  enemies  followed,  and  virulently  aceuled  him  before 
Herod.  Herod  does  not  condemn  him  as  a  traitor,  or 
one  that  would  fet  up  for  a  king,  but  looks  upon  him 
as  Pilate  did,  as  a  poor,  wortlilefs  creature,  not  worthy 
to  be  taken  notice  of,  and  does  but  make  a  mere  laugh 
of  the  Jews  accufing  him  as  a  dangerous  perfon  to  Ca.*- 
far,  as  one  that  was  ni  danger  of  fetting  up  to  be  a  king 
againft  Inm ;  and  therefore,  in  derifion,  dreiles  him  up 
in  a  mock  robe,  and  makes  fport  of  him,  and  lends 
liim  back  through  the  Itrects  of  Jerufalem  to  Pilate  with 
the  mock  robe  on. 

Then  the  Jews  prefer  Barabfcas  before  him,  and  are 
inftant  and  violent  with  loud  voices  to  Pilate,  to  cruci- 
fy him.  So  Pilate,  after  he  had  cleared  him  twice, 
and  Herod  once,  very  unrighteoufly  brings  him  on 
trial  the  third  time,  to  try  if  he  could  not  find  fome- 
thing  againO:  him  fufficient  to  crucify  him.  Chrill  wa^ 
flopped  and  fcourged  :  thus  he  gave  his  back  to  the 
fmiter.  After  that,  though  Pilate  flill  declared  that 
he  found  no  fault  in  him  ;  yet  fo  unjuft  was  he,  that 
for  fear  of  the  Jews  he  delivered  Chrift  to  be  crucified. 
But  before  they  execute  the  fentence,  his  fpiteful  and 
cruel  eneniies  take  the  pleafure  of  another  fpell  of 
mocking  him  ;  they  get  round  him,  and  make  a  let  bu- 
fmefs  of  it.  They  Itripped  him,  and  put  on  him  a 
fcarlet  robe,  and  a  reed  in  his  hand,  and  a  crown  of 
thorns  on  his  head.  Both  Jews  and  Roman  foldiers 
were  united  in  the  tranfaftion ;  they  bow  the  knee  be- 
fore him,  and  in  derifion  cry,  "  Hail,  king  of  the  Jews.'* 
They  fpit  upon  him  alfo,  and  take  the  reed  out  of  his 
liand,  and  fmite  him  on  the  head.  After  this  they  led 
Jiim  away  to  crucify  bin,  and  made  him  carry  his  own 
crofs,  till  he  funk  under  it,  his  ftrength  being  fpent; 
and  then  they  laid  it  on  />"ie  Simon  a  Cyrenian. 

At  length,  being  cone  to  Mount  Calvary,  they  exe- 
cute the  fentence  whicli  Pilate  had  fo  umiglueoufly  pro- 
nounced. They  nail  him  to  his  crof^by  his  hands  and 
feet,  then  r.iife  it  cre6},  and  fix  one  end  in  the  ground,, 
he  being  ftill  fufpended  on  it  by  the  nails  \vhich pierced 
C  c  2  hia 


228  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  II. 

his  iiands  and  feet.  And  now  Chrift's  fufFerings  are 
come  to  the  extremity :  now  the  cup,  Vvhich  he  lo  ear- 
neftly  prayed  that  it  might  pafs  from  him,  is  come,  and 
he  mull,  he  does  drink  it.  In  thofe  days  crucifixion 
was  the  moil  tormenting  kind  of  death  by  which  any 
were  wont  to  be  executed.  There  was  no  death  where- 
in the  perfon  expired  fo  much  of  mere  torment  :  and 
hence  the  Roman  word,  which  fignifies  tormerd^  is  ta- 
ken from  this  kind  of  death. And  befides  what  our 

Liord  endured  in  this  excruciating  death  in  his  body,  he 
endured  vaftly  more  in  his  fouh     Now  was  that  travail 
of  his  foul,  of  which  we  read  in  the  prophet ;  now  it 
pleafed  God   to  bruife  him,  and  to  put  him  to  grief ; 
iiov/  he  poured  out   his   foul  unto  death,  as  in  If.  hii. 
And  if  the   mere  forethought  of  this  cup  made  him 
I'weat  blood,  how  much  more  dreadful  and  excruciating 
muft  the  drinking  of  it  have  been !  Many  martyrs  have 
endured  much  in  their  bodies,   while   their  fouls  have 
been  joyful,  and  have  fung  for  joy,  whereby  they  have 
been  fupported  under  the  fuffering  of  their  outward 
man,  and   have  triumphed  over  them.     But  this  was 
not  the  cafe  with  Chrift  ;  he  had  no  fuch  fupport ;  but 
his  fufFerings  were  chiefly  thofe  of  the  mind,  though 
the  other  were  extremely   great.     In  his   crucifixion' 
Chrift  did  not  fweat  blood,  as  he  had  before,  becaufe 
his  blood  had   vent  otherwife,   and   not   becaufe   his 
agony  was  now  not  fo  great.     But  though  he  did  not 
fw'eat  blood,  yet  fuch  was  the  fuffering  of  his  foul,  that 
probably  it  rent  his  vitals  ;  as  feems  probable  by  this, 
that  when  liis  fide  was  pierced,  there  came  forth  blood 
and  water.     And  fo  here  was  a  kind  of  literal  fulfil- 
ment of  that  in  Pfal.  xxii.  14.    "I  am  poured  out  like 
*'  water : — -my  heart  is  like  wax,  it  is  melted  into  the 
*'  midft  of  my  bowels." 

Now  under  all  thefe  fufFerings  the  Jews  ftill  mock 
])im  ;  and  wagging  their  heads  fay,  "  Thou  that  de- 
*'  firoyeft  the  temple,  and  buildeft  it  in  three  days,  fave 
*'  thyielf :  if  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  come  down 
*'  from  the  crofs."  And  even  the  chief  priells,  fcribes, 
and  elders,  joined  in  the  cry,  faying,  "  He  faved 
*'  othei  s,  himfelf  he  cannot  fave."  And  probably  the 
devil  at  the  fame  time  tormented  him  to  the  utmoft  of 

his 


Part II.  3,    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION,     -sc, 

his  power  ;  and  hence  it  is  faid,  Luke  xxii.  53.  "This 
"  ir>  your  hour  and  the  power  of"  darknef's." 

Under  thefe  fuflerings,  Chrifl  having  cried  out  once 
and  again  with  a  loud  voice,  at  lafl  he  faid,  "It  is  finilh- 
"  ed,"  (John  xix.  30.)  "and  bowed  tlie  head  and  gave 
"  up  the  ghoft."  And  thus  was  finilhcd  the  greatefl; 
and  mofl  wonderful  thing  that  ever  was  done.  Now 
the  Angels  beheld  the  mofl  wonderful  fight  that  ever 
they  faw.  Now  was  accomplifhed  the  mani  thing  that 
had  been  pointed  at  by  the  various  inftitutions  of  the 
ceremonial  law,  and  by  all  the  typical  difpenlations, 
and  by  all  the  facrifices  from  the  beginning  of  the 
v/orld. 

Chrift  being  thus  brought  under  the  power  of  death, 
continued  und^r  it  till  the  morning  of  next  day  but 
one ;  and  then  was  finifhed  that  great  work,  the  pur- 
chafe  of  our  redemption,  for  which  fuch  great  prepa- 
ration had  been  made  from  the  beginning  of  die  world. 
Then  was  finifhed  all  that  was  required  in  order  to  fa- 
tisfy  die  threatnings  of  the  law,  and  all  that  was  necef- 
fary  in  order  to  fatisfy  divine  juflice ;  then  the  utmoil 
that  vindictive  juflice  demanded,  even  the  whole  debt 
was  paid.  Then  was  finifhed  the  whole  of  the  pur- 
chafe  of  eternal  life.  And  now  there  is  no  need  of 
any  thing  more  to  be  done  towards  a  purchafe  of  falva- 
tion  for  finncrs ;  nor  has  ever  any  thing  been  done 
lince,  nor  will  any  thing  more  be  done  for  ever  and 
^ver. 


I    U    P    R    O    V    E    M    E    N    T. 

IN  furveying  the  hiflory  of  redemption,  from  the 
fall  of  man  to  the  cnd,of  the  world,  we  have  now 
fhown  how  this  work  was  carried  on  through  the  two 
former  of  the  three  main  periods  into  which  this 
whole  fpace  of  time  was  divided,  viz.  from  the  fall  to 
the  incarnation  of  Chrill,  and  from  thence  to  the  end 
orlhe  time  of  Chrill's  humiliation  ;  and  have  particu- 
larly explained  how  in  die  firfl  of  thcfe  periods  God 
prepared  the  way  for  Chrifls  appearing  and  purchafmg 
redemption  ;  and  how,  in  the  fecond  period,  that  pur- 
chafe was  made  and  finifhed.  I  would  iiow  make  fome 
.  improvement 


230  A    HISTORY    of  Period  il. 

improvement  of  what  has  i^een  faid  on  both  thefe  fub;^ 
je6is  confidered  conjunftly. And  this  I  would   do, 

1.  In  an  life  of  reproof. 

2.  In  an  ufe  of  encouragement. 

SECT.        I. 

I  BEGIN  with  an  ufe  of  reproof ;  a  reproof  of  three 
things : 

1.  Of  unbelief. 

2.  Of  fclf-rightcoufnefs. 

3.  Of  a  carelefs  negled  of  the  falvation   of  Chrift. 
1.  If  it  be  as  we  have  heard,  how  greatly  do  thefe 

things  reprove  thofe  who  do  not  believe  in,  but  rejeft 
tlie  Lord  Jefus  Chrift !  i.  e.  all  thofe  who  do  not  hear- 
tily receive  him.  Perfons  may  receive  him  in  profef- 
fion,  and  carry  well  outwai^dly  towards  him,  and  may 
wiih  that  they  had  fome  of  ihofe  benefits  that  Chrift 
lias  purchafed,  and  yet  their  hearts  not  receive  Chrift  ; 
they  may  be  hearty  in  nothing  that  they  do  towards 
Chrift ;  they  may  have  no  high  efteem  of  Chrift,  nor 
any  fmcere  honor  or  refpeft  to  Chrift ;  they  may  ne- 
ver have  opened  the  door  of  their  heart  to  Chrift,  but 
have  kept  him  fhut  out  all  their  days,  ever  fmce  they 
firft  heard  of  Chrift,  and  his  falvation  has  been  offered 
to  them.  Though  their  hearts  have  been  opened  to 
others,  their  doors  have  been  flung  wide  open  to  them 
and  they  have  had  free  admittance  at  all  limes,  and  have 
been  embraced  and  made  much  of,  and  the  heft  room 
in  their  hearts  has  been  given  them,  and  the  throne  of 
their  liearts  has  been  allowed  them  ;  yet  Ch;-ift  has  al- 
ways been  fhut  out,  and  they  have  been  deaf  to  all  his 
knocks  and  calls.  They  never  could  find  an  inchnation 
of  heart  to  receive  him  nor  would  they  ever  truft  in 
him. 

Let  me  now  call  upon  you  with  ^vhom  it  is  thus,  to 
confider  how  great  your  fin,  in  thus  reje61ing  J(€us 
Clirift,  appears  to  be  from  thofe  things  that  have  been 
faid.  You  flight  the  glorious  perfon,  for  whofe  tee- 
ming God  made  fuch  great  preparation  in  fuch  a  feries 
of  wonderful  providences  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world,  and  whom,  after  all  things  were  made  ready, 
God  fent  into  the  world,  bringing  to  pafs  a  thing  befor^. 

unknown 


Impr.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     231 

unknown,  viz.  the  union  of  the  divine  nature  with  il-e 
human  in  oneperfon.  You  have  been  gnihyof  flight- 
ing that  great  Saviour,  who,  after  fuch  preparation,  ac- 
tually accomphfhed  the  purchal'e  of  redemption  ;  and 
who,  after  he  had  fpent  three  or  four  and  thirty  years 
in  poverty,  labour,  and  contempt,  in  purchahng  re- 
demption, at  lalt  finiflied  the  purchafe  by  clo.'nig  his 
life  under  fuch  extreme  fufferings  as  you  have  heard  ; 
and  fo  by  his  death,  and  continuing  for  a  time  under 
the  po\;'er  of  death,  compleated  the  whole.  This  is  the 
pcrfon  you  reje61:  and  defpife.  You  make  light  of  all 
the  glory  of  his  perfon,  and  of  all  the  glorious  love  of 
God  tlie  Fatlier,  in  fending  him  into  the  world,  and  all 
his  wonderful  love  appearing  in  the  whole  of  this  affair. 
That  precious  Hone  that  God  hath  laid  in  Zion  for  a 
foundation  in  fuch  a  manner,  and  by  fuch  wonderful 
works  as  you  have  heard,  is  a  ftone  fct  at  nought  by 
you. 

Sinners  fometimes  are  ready  to  wonder  why  the  fm  o£ 
unbelief  (hould  be  looked  upon  as  fuch  a  great  fm  : 
but  if  you  confider  what  you  have  heard,  how  can  you 
wonder  ?  If  it  be  fo,  that  this  Saviour  is  fo  great  a  Sa- 
viour, and  this  work  fo  great  a  work,  and  fuch  great 
things  have  been  done  in  order  to  it,  truly  there  is  no 
caufe  of  wonder  that  the  fm  of  unbelief,  or  the  rejec- 
tion of  this  Saviour,  is  fpoken  of  in  fcripture  as  fuch  a 
dreadful  fm,  fo  provoking  to  God,  and  what  brings 
greater  guilt  than  the  fins  of  the  worft  of  the  Heathen, 
who  never  heard  of  thufe  things,  nor  have  had  this 
Saviour  offered  to  them. 

II.  What  has  been  faid,  affords  matter  of  reproof  to 
thofe  who,  inflead  of  believing  in  ChriR,  trufl  in  them- 
felves  for  falvation.  It  is  a  common  thing  with  men  to 
take  it  upon  themfelves  topurchafe  falvation  for  them- 
felves,  and  I'd  to  do  that  great  work  which  Chrifl  came 
into  the  world  to  do.  Are  there  none  fuch  here  who 
trufl  in  their  prayers,  and  their  good  converfations, 
and  ,the  pains  they  take  in  religion,  and  the  reforma- 
tion of  their  lives,  and  in  their  felf-denial,  to  recom- 
mend them  to  God,  to  make  fome  atonement  for  their 
paft  fins,  and  to  draw  the  heart  of  God  to  them  ? 

Confider  three  things : 

1.  How  great  a  thing  that  is  which  you  take  upon 

AOU. 


232  A  HISTORY  of  Peiiod  IL 

yoiT.  You  take  upon  you  to  do  the  work  of  the  great 
Saviour  of  the  world.  You  truft  in  your  own  doings 
to  appeafe  God  for  your  fins,  and  to  inchne  the  heart 
of  God  to  you.  Though  you  are  poor,  worthlefs,  vile, 
polluted  worms  of  the  duft ;  yet  fo  arrogant  ^e  you, 
that  you  take  upon  you  that  very  work,  that  the  only 
begotten  Son  of  God  did  when  upon  earth,  and  that  he 
became  man  to  capacitate  himfelf  for,  and  in  order  to 
which  God  fpent  four  thoufand  years  in  all  the  great 
difpenfations  of  his  providence  in  the  government  of 
the  world,  aiming  chiefly  at  this,  to  make  way  for 
Chrill's  coming  to  do  this  woi  k.  This  is  the  vork  that 
you  take  upon  yourfelf,  and  foolifhly  think  yourfelf 
fufficient  for  it ;  as  though  your  prayers,  and  other 
performances,  v/ere  excellent  enough  for  this  purpofe. 
Confider  how  vain  is  the  thought  which  you  entertain 
of  yourfelf.  How  muft  fuch  arrogance  appear  in  the 
fight  of  Chrift,  whom  it  coft  fo  much  to  make  a  pur- 
chafe  of  falvation,  when  it  was  not  to  be  obtained  even 
by  him,  fo  great  and  glorious  a  perfon,  at  a  cheaper 
rate  than  his  wading  through  a  fea  of  blood,  and  pafling 
through  the  midft  of  the  furnace  of  God's  wrath.  And 
how  vain  mull  your  arrogance  appear  in  the  fight  of 
God,  when  he  fees  you  imagining  yourfelf  fufficient, 
and  your  worthlefs,  polluted  performances  excellent 
enough  for  the  accomplifhing  of  that  work  of  his  own 
Son,  to  prepare  the  way  for  which  he  w^as  employed  in 
ordering  all  the  great  affairs  of  the  world  for  fo  many 
ages  ! 

2.  If  there  be  ground  for  you  to  truft,  as  you  do,  in 
your  own  righteoufnefs,  then  all  that  Chrift  did  to  pur- 
chafe  falvation  when  on  earth,  and  all  that  God  did 
from  the  firft  fall  of  man  to  that  time  to  prepare  the 
v/ay  for  it,  is  in  vain.  Your  felf-righteoufnefs  charges 
God  with  the  greateft  folly,  as  though  he  has  done  all 
things  in  vain,  t  ven  fo  much  in  vain,  that  he  has  done 
all  this  to  bring  about  an  accompliihment  of  thatwliicli 
you  alone,  a  little  worm,  with  your  poor  polluted 
prayers,  and  the  little  pains  you  take  in  religion,  min- 
gled with  all  that  hypocrify  and  .filthinefs,  are  fufficient 
to  accompliih  for  yourfelf  without  Chrift's  help.  For 
if  you  can  appeafe  God's  anger,  and  can  commend 
^o'.uf^lf  to  God  by  thefe  means,  then  you  have  no 

need 


Impr.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     233 

need  of  Chrift ;  but  he  is  dead  in  vain:  Gal.  ii.  21. 
"  If  righteoufnefs  come  by  the  law,  then  Chi  ill  is  dead 
*'  in  vain." 

If  you  can  do  this  by  your  prayers  and  good  works, 
Chrilt  might  have  fpared  his  pams  ;  he  might  have  ipa- 
red  his  blood ;  he  might  have  kept  within  the  hofum  of 
his  Eather,  without  coining  dow  n  into  this  evil  world  to 
be  dcfpifed,  reproached,  and  perfecuted  to  death  :  and 
God  needed  not  have  bufied  himfclf,  as  he  did  for  four 
thoufand  years  together,  caufing  lb  many  changes  in  the 
flate  of  the  world  all  that  while,  in  order  to  the  bring- 
ing about  that  which  you,  as  little  as  you  are,  can  ac- 
complifli  in  a  few  days,  only  with  the  tiouble  of  a  few 
fighs,  and  groans,  and  prayers,  and  fomc  other  re- 
ligious performances.  Confider  with  yourfelf  what 
greater  folly  could  you  have  devifed  to  charge  upon 
God  than  this,  to  do  all  thofe  things  before  and  after 
Chrift  came  into  the  world  fo  needlefsly ;  when,inftead 
of  all  this,  he  might  only  have  called  you  forth,  and 
committed  the  bufinefs  to  you,  \vhich  you  think  yoti 
can  do  fo  eafily. 

Alas!  how  blind  are  natural  men !  how  fottifli  are 
the  thoughts  they  have  of  things !  And  efpecially  how 
vain  are  the  thoughts  which  they  have  of  themfelves  ! 
How  ignorant  of  their  own  littlenefs  and  pollution ! 
HovvT  do  they  exalt  themfelves  up  to  heaven !  What  great 
things  do  they  affume  to  theip.fehes. 

3.  You  that  truft  to  your  own  righteoufnefs,  arro- 
gate to  yourfelves  the  honour  of  the  greateft  thing  that 
ever  God  himfelf  did  ;  not  only  as  if  you  were  fuHici- 
ent  to  perform  divine  works,  and  to  accom]»li[h  fomc 
of  the  great  works  of  God  ;  but  fuch  is  )'our  pride  and 
vanity,  that  you  are  not  content  without  -taking  upon 
you  to  do  the  very  greateft  work  that  ever  God  himfelf 
wrought,  even  the  work  of  redemption.  You  fee  by 
what  has  been  faid,  how  God  has  fubordinated  all  his 
other  works  to  this  worli  of  retlemption.  You  fee  how 
Gods  works  of  providence  are  greater  than  his  works 
of  creation,  and  that  all  God's  works  of  proviclcnce, 
from  the  beginning  of  the  generations  of  men,  were  in 
order  to  this,  to  make  way  for  the  purchafiiig  of  re- 
tlemption. But  this  is  what  you  take  upon  yourfelf. 
To  take  on  yourfelf  to  work  out  redemption,  is  a 
D  d  greater 


234  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  IL 

greater  thing  than  if  you  had  taken  it  upon  you  to 
create  a  world.  Confider  with  yourfelf  what  a  figure 
you  a  poor  worm  would  make,  if  you  fliould  ferioufly 
go  about  to  create  fuch  a  world  as  God  did,  fhould 
f w  11  in  your  own  conceit  of  yourfelf,  fhould  deck 
yourfelf  with  majefty,  pretend  to  fpeak  the  word  of 
power,  and  call  an  univerfe  out  of  nothing,  intending 
to  go  on  in  order,  and  fay,  *'  Let  there  be  light ,  let 
*'  there  be  a  firmament,"  &c.  But  then  confider,  that 
in  attempting  to  work  out  redemption  yourfelf,  you  at- 
tempt a  greater  thing  than  this,  and  are  ferious  in  it, 
and  will  not  be  beat  off  from  it ;  but  flrive  in  it,  and 
are  full  of  the  thought  of  yourfelf  that  you  are  fuffi- 
cient  for  it,  and  always  big  with  hopes  of  accomplifh- 
ing  it. 

You  take  upon  y-ou  to  do  the  very  greatefl;  and  mofl 
difficult  part  of  this  work,  viz.  to  purchafe  redemp- 
tion. Chrifl  can  accomplifh  other  parts  of  this  work 
without  coft,  without  any  trouble  and  difficulty :  but 
this  part  cofl  him  his  life,  as  well  as  innumerable  pains 
and  labours,  with  very  great  ignominy  and  contempt 
befides.  Yet  this  is  that  part  which  felf-righteous  per- 
fons  go  about  to  accomphfh  for  themfelves.  If  all  the 
angels  in  heaven  had  been  fufhcient  for  this  work, 
would  God  have  fet  himfelf  to  effeft  fuch  things  as 
he  did  in  order  to  it,  before  he  fent  his  Son  into  the 
world  ?  And  would  he  ever  have,  fent  his  own  Son,  the 
great  Creator  and  God  of  the  angels  into  the  world, 
to  have  done  and  fuffered  fuch  things  ? 

What  feif-righteous  perfons  take  to  themfelves,  is  the 
fame  work  that  Chrifl  was  engaged  in  when  he  was  in 
his  agony  and  bloody  fweat,  and  when  he  died  on  the 
crofs,  which  was  the  greatefl  thing  that  ever  the  eyes 
of  angels  beheld.  This,  as  great  as  it  is,  they  imagine 
thev  can  do  the  fame  that  Chrifl  accomplilhed  by  it. 
Their  felf-righteoufnefs  does  in  effeft  charge  Chrifl's 
off^Ting  up  himfelf  in  thcfe  fufferings,  as  the  greatefl 
inflance  of  folly  that  ev^er  m.en  or  angels  faw,  inflead  of 
being  the  m.ofl  glorious  difplay  of  the  divine  wifdom 
and  grace  that  ever  was  feen.  Yea,  felf-righteoufuefs 
makes  all  that  Chrifl  did  through  the  whole  courfe  of 
his  life,  and  all  that  he  faid  and  fuffered  through  that 
whole  time^  and  his  incarnation  itfelf,  and  not  onlv  fo, 

but 


Impr.  1.     The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION. 


o  r)  - 


but  all  that  God  had  been  doing  in  the  great  difpcnfa- 
tions  of  his  providence  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world  to  that  time,  as  all  nothing,  but  a  fcene  of  the 
;iioll  wild,  and  extreme,  and  tranfcendant  foil)-. 

Is  it  any  Wonder,  then,  that  a  felf-righteous  fpirit  is  fo 
reprefented  in  fcripture,  and  fpoken  of,  as  that  which 
is  moll  fatal  to  the  fouls  of  men  ?  And  is  it  any  won- 
der, that  Chriil  is  reprefented  in  fcripture  as  being  fo 
provoked  with  the  Pharifees  and  others,  who  truRed  in. 
themfelves  that  they  were  righteous,  and  were  proud  of 
their  goodnefs,  and  thought  that  their  own  perform- 
ances were  a  valuable  price  of  God's  favour  and  love  ? 

Let  perfons  hence  be  warned  againft;  a  felf-righteous 
fpirit.  You  that  are  feeking  your  falvation  and  taking 
pains  in  religion,  take  heed  to  yourfelves  that  you  do  not 
truft  in  what  you  do ;  that  you  do  not  harbour  any  fucli 
thoughts  ;  that  God  now,  feeing  how  much  you  are  re- 
formed, how  you  take  pains  in  religion,  and  how  you 
are  fometimes  affeftcj,  will  be  pacified  towards  you 
with  relpeft  to  your  fms,  and  on  account  of  it  will  not 
be  fo  angry  for  yoiir  former  fms  ;  and  that  you  (hall 
gain  on  hini  by  fuch  things,  and  draw  his  heart  to  (how 
you  mercy  ;  or  at  leaf!  that  God  ought  to  accept  of  what 
you  do,  fo  as  to  be  inclined  by  it  in  Tome  meafure  to  for- 
give you,  and  have  mercy  on  you.  If  you  entertain 
this  thought,  that  God  is  obliged  to  do  it,  and  does  not 
a6l  jullly  ii  he  refufe  to  regard  your  pra}ers  and  pains, 
and  fo  quarrel  with  God,  and  complain  of  him  for  not 
doing,  this  fhows  what  your  opinion  is  of  your  own. 
righteoufnefs,  viz.  that  it  is  a  valuable  price  of  falvation, 
and  ought  to  be  accepted  of  God  as  fuch.  Such  com-. 
plaining  of  God,  and  quarielling  with  him,  for  not  ta- 
king more  notice  of  your  righteoufnefs,  plainly  Ihows 
that  you  are  guilty  of  all  that  arrogance  that  has  been 
fpoken  of,  thinking  yourfelf  fulHcient  to  offer  the  priccr 
of  your  ov»'n  falvation. 

III.  What  has  been  faid  on  this  fubjeft  affords  mat- 
ter of  reproof  to  thofe  who  carelefsly  neglecf  the  falva- 
tion of  Chriil;  fuch  as  live  a  fenfeiefs  kind  of  life,  neg- 
lecting the  bufmcfs  of  religion  and  their  own  fouls  for 
the  prcfent,  nor  taking  any  courfe  fo  get  an  intcreff  in 
Chrift.  or  what  he  has  done  and  fuffered,  or  any  part 
D  d  1$  HI 


236  A   HISTORY    OF  Period  11. 

in  that  glorious  falvation  he  has  purchafed  by  that 
price,  but  ra'.hcr  have  their  minds  taken  up  about  the 
gains  of  the  world,  or  about  the  vanities  and  pleafures 
of  youth,  and  fo  make  Hght  of  what  thev  hear  from 
lime  to  time  of  Ciirill's  falvation,  that  they  do  not  at 
prefent  lo  much  as  feek  after  it.  Let  mh  here  apply 
jiiyfelf  to  you  in  fome  expoflulatory  interrogations. 

1.  Shall  fo  many  pro|)hets,  and  kings,  and  righteous 
men,  have  their  minds  fo  much  taken  up  with  the  pio- 
fpctl,  that  the  purchafe  of  falvation  was  to  be  wrought 
out  in  ages  long  after  tlieir  death  ;  and  will  you  neg- 
lect it  when  a61;ually  accomplifl-.ed  ?  You  have  heard 
what  fi^reat  account  the  church  in  all  ai^es  made  of  the 
futuie  redemption  of  Chritt  ;  how  joyfully  they  ex- 
peried  it,  how  they  fpoke  of  it,  how  they  ftudied  and 
fearched  into  tliefe  things,  how  they  fung  joyful  fongs, 
and  had  their  hearts  greatly  engaged  about  it,  and  yet 
never  expe6ted  to  fee  it  done,  and  did  not  expeft  that 
it  would  be  accompliihed  till  many  ages  after  their 
death,  1  Pet.  i.  10.  11.  12.  How  much  did  Ifaiah  and 
Daniel,  and  other  prophets,  fpeak  concerning  this  re- 
demption! And  how  much  wcyq  their  hearts  engaged, 
and  their  attenrion  and  fmdy  fixed  upon  it!  How  was 
David's  mind  taken  up  in  this  fubjeci  !  He  declared 
that  it  was  all  his  falvation,  and  all  his  defire ;  2  Sam. 
xxiii.5.  How  did  he  employ  his  voice  and  harp  in  ce- 
lebrating if,  and  the  glorious  difplay  of  divijie  grace 
therein  exhibited!  And  all  this  althdugh  they  beheld  it 
not  as  yet  accomiplilhed,  but  faw  that  it  was  to  be 
brought  to  pafs  fo  long  a  time  after  their  day. — And 
before  this,  how  did  Abraham  and  the  other  patriarchs 
rejoice  in  the  profpe61:  of  Chrifl's  day,  and  the  redemp- 
tion which  he  was  to  purchafe !  And  even  the  faints 
before  the  flood  >vere  affecfed  and  elated  in  the  expeft- 
ation  of  this  glorious  event,  though  it  was  then  fo  long 
fiitur^e,  and  it  v/as  fo  very  faintly  and  cbfcurely  reveal- 
ed to  them. 

Now  thcfe  things  are  declared  to  you  as  afiually  ful- 
'  filled.  The  cliurch  now  has  feen  accomplifiied  all  thpfe 
great  things  which  they  fo  joyfully  prophefied  of;  and 
you  are  abundantly  fhown  how  thol^  things  were  ac- 
compliihed :  Matth.  xiii.  17.  "  Verily  I  fay  unto  you, 
*'  that  many  prophets  and  righteous  men  have  defired 

'*  to 


Impr.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     207 

^*  to  fee  thofe  things  which  ye  fee,  aiul  have  not  fecn ; 
*>  and  to  hear  tho.e  things  which  ye  hear,  and  have 
*'  not  heard  them."  And  yet,  when  ihclc  things  aic 
thus  abundantly  Jet  hefore  \ou  as  already  acconiplillied, 
how  do  you  Ihght  them  !  How  Hght  do  )ou  make  of 
them!  How  httle  are  they  taken  notice  of  by  )'<)u! 
How  unconcerned  are  you  about  them,  following 
other  things,  and  not  fo  much  as  feeling  any  intiier.ell 
in  them  !  Indeed  your  fin  is  extremely  aggravated 
in  the  fight  of  God.  God  has  put  )ou  under  gi eat 
advantages  for  your  eternal  falvation,  far  greater  than 
thofe  faints  of  old  enjoved.  He  has  put  vou  under  a 
more  glorious  difpcnf'ation  ;  has  given)  on  a  moie 
clccir  revelation  of  Chrifl  and  his  falvation  ;  and  yet  yon 
Xiegletl  all  thefe  advantages,  and  go  on  in  a  carelefs 
courfe  ot  lite,  as  though  nothing  had  been  done,  no 
fuch  propofals  and  offers  had  been  made  you. 

2.  Have  the  Angels  been  fo  engaged   about  tliis  fal- 
vation, which  is  by  Chriif  ever  fince  the  fall  of  man,     ' 
though  they  are  not  immediately  concerned  in  it,  and 
will  you  who  need  it,  and  have  it  offered  to  ^ou,  befo 
carelefs  about  it  ?  You  have  heard  how  the  Angels  at 
firH:  were  fubje:-led  to  Chrifl  as  Mediator,  and  how  they 
have  all  along  been  minilfering  fpirits   to  liim  in   this 
affair.     In  all  the  great  difpenfations  which  you  have 
heard   of  from  the  bcginr|ing  of  the  world,  they  have 
becri  a6tive  and  as  a  flame  of  fire  in  this  affair,  being 
moll  diligenily  emplo)ed  as  miniflering  fpiriis  to  niiui- 
fler  to  Chrifl  in  diis  great  affair  of  man's  redcjnpti'jii. 
And  when  Chrifl  came,  how  engaged  were  their  minds  !        . 
They  came  to  Zacharias,  to  inform  him  of  the  coming    ^• 
of  Cin-ifl'sforerunner :  They  came  to  the  Virgin  Nhiry, 
to  inform  her  of  the  approaching  birth  of  Chrifl :  'I'hey 
came  to  Jofeph,  to  warn  him   of  .the  danger  wuicli 
threa'ened  the  new-born  Saviour,  and  to  point  out  10 
him  the  means  of  fafety.     And  how  were  i];eir  minds 
engaged  at  the  time  of  the  birtli  of  Chrifl !  The  whole 
mil  itude  of  the  heavenly  hofis  fang  prait'cs  upon  the 
occafion,  faying,  "  Glory  to  God  in    the  highefl,  ?n.d 
"  on  earth,  peace  and  good  will  towards  men.'"     And 
afterwards,  fiom  tinje  to  time,  they  miniflered  to  Chrifl 
when  on  earrh  ;  they  did  fo  at  tb.e  time  of  his  temptati- 
on, at  thetime  of  his  agonv  in  the  garden,  at  his  refarrec- 
tion,  and  at  his  afcciifion.     All  thefe  things  fliow,  that 

they 


S3B  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  IL 

they  were  greatly  engaged  in  this  affair ;  and  the  fcrip*. 
ture  informs  us,  that  they  pry  into  thefe  things  :  i  Pet, 
i.  12.  "Which  things  the  Angels  defire  to  look  into." 
And  how  are  they  reprefenied  in  the  Revelation  as  be- 
ing employed  in  fieaven  in  fmging  praifes  to  him  that 
fitteth  on  the  throne,  and  to  the  Lamb !  Now,  fhall 
thefe  take  fo  much  notice  of  this  redemption,  and  of 
the  purchafer,  who  need  it  not  for  themfelves,  and 
Lave  no  immediate  concern  or  intereft  in  it,  or  offer 
wf  it ;  and  will  you,  to  whom  it  is  offered,  and  who  are 
in  fuch  extreme  neceffity  of  it,  negle6l  and  take  no  no- 
tice of  it? 

3.  Was  it  worth  the  while  for  Chrift  to  labour  fo 
bard,  and  do  and  fuffer  fo  much  to  procure  this  falva- 
tjon,  and  is  it  not  worth  the  while  for  you  to  be  at  fome 
labour  in  feeking  it  ?  Was  it  a  thing  of  fo  great  im- 
portance, that  falvation  ihould  be  procured  for  finners, 
as  that  it  was  worthy  to  lie  with  fuch  weight  on  the 
mind  of  Chrilf,  as  to  induce  him  to  become  man,  and 
to  fuffer  fuch  contempt  and  labour,  and  even  death  it- 
ieif,  in  order  to  procure  it,  though  he  flood  in  need  of 
nothing,  though  he  was  like  to  gain  no  addition  to 
his  eternal  happinefs,  though  he  could  get  nothing  by 
thofe  that  he  faved,  though  he  did  not  need  them  ;  was 
it  of  fuch  importance  that  finners  fhould  be  faved,  that 
lie  might  properly  be  induced  to  fubmit  to  fuch  humi- 
liation and  fuifering ;  and  yet  is  it  not  worth  the  while 
for  you,  who  are  one  of  thofe  miferable  finners  that 
need  this  falvation,  and  muft  perifh  eternally  without 
it,  to  take  earneft  pains  to  obtain  a|i  jntcreft  in  it  after 
it  is  procured,  and  all  things  are  ready?  ^ 

4.  Shall  the  great  God  be  fo  concerned  about  this 
falvation,  as  fo  ofien  to  overturn  the  world  to  make 
■way  for  it ;  and  when  all  is  done,  is  it  not  worth  your 
feeking  after  ?  How  has  the  Lord  of  Heaven  and  earth 
been  as  it  were  engaged  about  this  affair  !  What  great, 
what  wonderful  things  has  he  done  from  one  age  to  an- 
other, removing  kings,  and  fetting  up  kings,  raifmg  up 
a  great  number  of  prophets,  feparating  a  diitinft  nation 
from  therell  of  the  world,  overturning  one  nation  and 
kingdom,  and  another,  and  often  overturning  the  flate 
of  the  world  ;  andfo  has  continued  bringing  about  one 
change  and  revolution  after  anodier  for  fort)-  centuries 

in 


Impr.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     239 

in  fucceflion,  to  make  way  for  the  procuring  of  this 
falvation  !  And  when  he  has  clone  all ;  and  when,  at 
the  clofe  of  thefe  ages,  the  great  Saviour  comes,  and, 
becoming  incarnate,  and  pafhng  through  a  long  ferics 
of  reproach  and  fufferirig,  and  then  Iidfcring  all  the 
waves  and  billows  of  God's  wrath  for  men's  fins,  in- 
fomuch  that  they  overwhelmed  his  foul ;  after  all  thefe 
things  done  to  procure  falvation  for  fumers ;  is  it  not 
worthy  of  your  taking  fo  much  notice  of,  or  being  fa 
much  concerned  about,  diough  you  are  thofe  perlon^ 
who  need  this  falvation,  but  that  it  flioold  be  throu'n 
by,  and  made  nothing  of,  in  comparifon  of  worldly 
gain,  or  gay  cloathing,  or  youthful  diverfions,  and 
other  fuch  trifling  things  ? 

O  !  that  you  who  live  negligent  of  tliis  falvation, 
would  confider  what  you  do  !  What  )'ou  have  heard 
from  this  fubjeft  may  fhow  you  what  reafon  there  is  in 
that  exclamation  of  the  Apoftle,  Heb.  ii.  3.  **  How 
*'  fhall  we  efcape  if  wt  negleft  fo  great  falvation  ?"' 
and  in  that,  Afts  xiii.  41,  "Behold,  ye  defpifers,  ^nd 
*'  wonder,  and  perifb  :  for  I  work  a  work  in  your 
*'  days,  a  work  which  you  fhall  in  no  wife  believe, 
*'  though  a  man  declare  it  unto  you."  God  looks  on 
fuch  as  you  as  great  enemies  of  the  crofs  of  Chrift,  and 
adverfaries  and  defpifers  of  all  the  glory  of  this  great 
work.  And  if  God  has  made  fuch  account  of  the  glo- 
ry of  falvation  as  to  deflroy  many  nations,  and  fo  often 
overturn  all  nations,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  gloiy 
of  his  Son  in  this  affair ;  how  little  account  will  he  make 
of  the  lives  and  fouls  of  ten  thoufand  fuch  oppofers 
and  defpifers  as  you  that  continue  impenitent,  in  com- 
parifon of  that  glory,  when  hefliall  hereafter  come  and 
find  that  your  welfare  flands  in  the  way  of  that  glory? 
Why  furely  you  fhall  be  daflicd  to  pieces  as  a  potter's 
veffel,  and  trodden  down  as  the  mire  of  the  flrccts. 
God  may,  through  wonderful  patience,  bear  with 
hardened  carelefs  finncrs  for  a  while;  but  he  will  not 
long  bear  with  fuch  defpifers  of  his  dear  Son,  and  his 
great  falvation,  the  glory  of  which  he  has  had  fo  much 
at  heart,  before  he  will  utterly  confume  without  rcme- 
dy  or  mercy. 

SECT. 


240  A   H  1  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Pericd  IL 


SECT.     II. 

I  WILL  conclude  wiih  a  fccond  ufe,  of  encouragement 
to  buidened  fouls  to  put  tlieir  trull  in  Chriii  for  fal- 
vaiion.  To  all  fuch  as  are  not  carclefs  and  negligent, 
but  do  make  fceking  an  intereil  in  Chriii  their  main 
bufincfs,  being  fenfible  in  fome  meafure  of  their  necef- 
fity  ot  an  intereil  in  Chrift,  being  afraid  of  the  wrath 
to  come ;  to  fuch  what  has  been  faid  on  this  fubjecl 
holds  forth  great  matter  of  encouragement,  to  come  and 
venture  their  fouls  on  the  Loid  jelus  Chriii :  and  as 
moiives  proper  to  excite  you  fo  to  do,  let  me  lead  you 
to  coniider  two  things  in  particular. 

1.  The  completenefs  of  the  purchafe  which  has  been 
made.  As  you  have  heard,  this  work  of  purchaiing 
falvationwas  wholly  finiihed  during  the  time  of  Chriil's 
humiliation.  When  Chriii  rofe  from  the  dead,  and 
-was  exalted  from  that  abafement  to  Mdiich  he  fubmitted 
for  our  faivation,  the  purchafe  of  eternal  life  was  com- 
pletely made,  [o  that  there  w^as  no  need  of  any  thing 
more  to  be  done  in  order  to  it.  But  now  the  fervants 
were  fent  forth  with  the  meifage  which  we  have  an  ac- 
count of  in  Matth.  xxii.  4.  "  Behold,  I  have  prepared  my 
*'  dinner  :  my  oxen  and  my  fattlings  are  killed,  and  ail 
*'  things  are  ready*,  come  unto  the. marriage."  There- 
fore all  things  being  ready,  are  your  fins  many  and 
great  ?  Here  is  enough  done  by  Chriit  to  procure  their 
paid('n.  There  is  no  need  of  any  rigliteoufnefs  of  yours 
to  obtain  your  pardon  and  jufiilication  :  no,  you  m^ay 
come  freely  without  money  and  without  price.  Since 
therefore  there  is  fuch  a  free  and  gracious  invitation 
given  you,  come  ;  come  naked  as  you  are ;  come  as  a 
poor  condemned  criminal ;  come  and  cail  yourfelf  down 
at  Chriil's  feet,  as  one  juilly  condemned,  and  utterly 
}]el[)lefs  in  yourfelf.  Here  is  a  complete  faivation 
•wToughtoutby  Chrift,  and  through  him  offered  to  you. 
Come,  therefore,  accept  of  it,  and  be  faved. 

2.  For  Chriit  to  rejeft  one  that  thus  comes  to  him, 
would  be  to  fruilrate  all  thofe  great  things  which  you 
h:ive  heard  that  God  brought  to  pafs  from  the  fall  of 
iv.ari  to  the  incarnation  of  Chrii!.  It  would  alfo  fru- 
f.r^-.i:  all  lliat  Cliriil  did  and  fuiTcred  while  on  earth  ; 

yea, 


Impr.  2.     TheWork  OF  REDEMPTION.      241 

yea,  it  would  fruflrate  the  incarnation  of  Chrift  itfclf, 
and  all  the  great  things  done  in  preparation  for  his  in- 
carnation ;  for  all  thefc  things  were  for  that  end,  that 
thofe  might  be  faved  who  Ihould  come  to  Chrllh — 
Therefore  you  may  be  fure  Chrill  will  not  be  backward 
in  faving  thofe  who  come  to  him,  and  trufl;  in  him :  for 
he  has  no  defire  to  frulf  rate  himfelf  in  his  own  work ; 
it  coft  him  too  dear  for  that.  Neither  will  God  the 
Father  rcfufe  you ;  for  he  has  no  defire  to  fruftrate 
liimfelf  in  all  that  he  did  for  fo  m.any  hundreds  and 
thoufands  of  years,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  falvati- 
on  of  finners  by  Chrilh  Come,  therefore,  hearken 
to  the  fweet  and  earnell  calls  of  Chrill  to  your  foul. — 
Do  as  he  invites,  and  as  he  commands  you,  Matth.  xi. 
28.  29.  30.  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour,  and 
"  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  reft.  Take  my 
*'  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of  me  ;  and  ye  fhall  find 
"  reft  unto  your  fouls.  For  my  yoke  is  eaf}',  and  my. 
"  burden  is  light." 

E  c 


PERIOD 


24s 


P    E    R    I    O    t)       liL 

IN  dlfcourfing  on  this  fubjeft,  we  have  already  (howrf 
how  the  \vork  of  redemption  was  carried  on  througk 
the  two  firft  of  the  three  periods  into  which  we  divi- 
ded the  whole  fpace  of  time  from  the  fall  to  the 
end  of  the  world  ;  and  we  are  now  come  to 

The  third  and  laft  period,  beginning  with  Chrift's 
refurreclion,  and  reaching  to  the  end  of  the  world ; 
and  would  now  fliow  how  this  work  was  alfa  carried 
on  through  this  period,  from  this 

Proposition,  That  the  fpace  of  time  from  the 
end  ofChrifl's  humiliation  to  the  end  of  the  world  is  all 
taken  up  in  bringing  about  the  great  effetl  or  fuccefs  of 
Chrfl's  parchaf. 

Not  but  that  there  were  great  effects  ancf  glorious 
fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  of  redemption  before,  even 
from  the  beginning  of  the  generations  of  men.  But  all 
that  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemption  which  ifas  before, 
was  only  preparatory,  and  was  by  way  of  anticipation, 
as  fome  few  fruits  are  gathered  before  the  harveft. — ' 
There  was  no  more  fuccefs  before  Chrift  came  than 
God  faw  needful  to  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming. 
The  proper  time  of  the  fuccefs  or  effe6l  of  Chrift's  pur- 
chafe of  redemption  is  after  the  purchafe  has  been 
made,  as  the  proper  time  for  the  world  to  enjoy  the 
lighc  of  the  fun  is  the  day-time,  after  the  fun  is  rifen, 
though  we  may  have  fome  fmall  matter  of  it  reflefted 
from  the  moon  and  planets  before.  And  even  the  fuc- 
cefs of  Chrift's  redemption  while  he  himfelf  was  on 
earth,  was  very  fmall  in  comparifon  of  what  it  was  after 
the  conclufion  of  his  humiliation. 

But  Chrift  having  finiihed  that  greateft  and  moft  dif- 
ficult of  all  works,  the  work  of  the  purchafe  of  re- 
demption, now  is  come  the  time  for  obtaining  the  end 
of  it,  the  glorious  effcft  of  it.  This  is  the  next  work 
he  goes  about.  Having  gone  through  the  whole  courfe 
of  iiis  fuIFcrings  and  humiliation,  there  is  an  end  to  all 

thing^s 


A  HISTORY   OF,  &c.  0^3 

j^lngs  of  that  nature  :  he  is  never  to  fuflfcr  any  morcp 
But  now  is  the  time  for  him  to  obtain  the  joy  that  was 
fet  before  him.  Having  made  his  foul  an  oficring  for 
fm,  riow  is  the  time  for  him  to  fee  his  feed,  and  to  have 
a  portion  divided  to  him  with  the  great,  and  to  divide 
the  fpoil  with  the  flrong. 

One  defign  of  Chrift  in  what  he  did  in  his  humiHa- 
tion,  was  to  lay  a  foundation  for  the  overthrow  of  Sa- 
tan's kingdom ;  and  now  is  come  the  time  to  cfic.  t  it, 
as  Chrill,  a  little  before  his  crucifixion,  faid,  John  xii. 
31.  "  Now  is  the  judgment  of  this  world  ;  now  fiiall 
*^  the  prince  of  this  world  be  caft  out."  Another  de- 
fign was,  to  gather  together  in  one  all  things  in  Chrift. 
Now  is  come  the  time  for  this  alfo  :  John  xii.  32. 
**  And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up,  will  draw  all  men  unto  me;'* 
which  is  agreeable  to  Jacob's  prophecy  of  Chrift,  that 
"  When  Shiloh  fhould  come,  to  him  Ihould  the  gather- 
^  ing  of  the  people  be,"  Gen.  xlix.  10.  Another  de- 
fign is  the  falvation  of  the  eleft.  Now  when  his  luf- 
ferings  are  finilhed,  and  his  humiliation  is  perfefied, 
the  time  is  come  for  that  alfo  :  Heb.  v.  8.  9.  "Though 
*'  he  were  a  Son,  yet  learned  he  obedience  by  the  things 
*>  which  he  fuftered  :  and  being  made  perfect,  he  became 
*'  the  author  of  eternal  falvation  unto  all  them  that  obey 
*•'  him."  Another  defign  was,  to  accomplifli  by  thefe 
things  great  glory  to  the  perfons  of  the  Trinity.  Now 
alfo  is  come  the  time  for  that:  John  xvii.  1.  "  Father 
"  the  hour  is  come  ;  glorify  thy  Son,  that  thy  Son  alfo 
"  may  glorify  thee."  Another  defign  was  the  giorv  of 
the  faints.  Now  is  the  time  alfo  for  this :  John  xvii. 
e.  "  As  thou  haft  given  him  power  over  all  flelh,  that 
"  he  (hould  give  eternal  life  to  as  many  as  thou  haft 
*'  given  him."  And  all  the  difpenfations  of  God's  pro- 
vidence henceforward,  even  to  the  6nal  confummation 
of  all  things,  are  to  give  Chrift  his  reward,  and  fulfil 
his  end  in  what  he  did  and  fuffercd  upon  earth,  and  to. 
fulfil  tlie  joy  that  was  fet  before  him. 
E  e  a 


IN'^ 


244  AHISTORYoF  Period  III. 


INTRODUCTION. 

BEFORE  I  enter  on  the  confideration  of  any  parti- 
cular things  accompHfhed  in  this  period  I  would 
briefly  obfer\^e  I'ome  things  in  general  concerning  it  ; 
and  particularly  how  the  times  of  this  period  are  repre- 
fented  in  fcripture. 

I.  The  times  of  this  period,  for  the  moft  part,  are 
thofe  which  in  the  Old  I'ellament  are  called  tht  latter 
days.  We  often,  in  the  prophets  of  the  Old  Tefta- 
ment,  read  of  fuch  and  fuch  things  that  fhould  come 
to  pafs  in  the  latter  days,  and  fometimes  in  the  lajl  days. 
Now  thefe  expreflions  of  the  prophets  are  moll  com- 
inonly  to  be  underftood  of  the  times  of  the  period  that 
we  are  now  upon.  They  are  called  the  latter  days^  and 
the  laji  days ;  becaufe  this  is  the  laft  period  of  the  feries 
of  God's  providences  on  earth,  the  laft  period  of  that 
great  work  of  providence,  the  work  of  redemption  ; 
which  is  as  it  were  the  fum  of  God's  works  of  provi- 
dence, the  time  wherein  the  church  is  under  the  laft 
difpenfation  of  the  covenant  of  grace  that  ever  it  will 
be  under  on  earth. 

II.  The  whole  time  of  this  period  is  fometimes  in  fcrip- 
ture called  the  end  of  the  world,  as,  i  Cor.  x.  1 1. "  Now 
"  all  thefe  things  happened  unto  them  for  enfamples  : 
"  and  they  are  written  for  our  admonition,  upon  whom 
*'  the  ends  of  the  world  are  come."  And  the  apoftle, 
Heb.  ix.  26.  in  this  expreflion  oi  the,  end  of  the  worlds 
means  the  whole  of  the  gofpel-day,  from  the  birth  of 
Chrift  to  the  finifhing  of  the  day  of  judgment:  "  But 
•'  now  once  in  the  end  of  the  world  hath  he  appear- 
*'  ed,  to  put  away  fin  by  the  facrifice  of  himfelf." — ■ 
This  fpace  of  time  may  well  be  called  the  end  of  the 
xvorid ;  for  this  whole  time  is  taken  up  in  bringing 
things  to  their  great  end  and  iftlie,  to  that  great  iffue 
that  God  had  been  preparing  the  way  for,  in  all  the 
great  difpcnfations  of  providence,  from  the  firft  fall  of 
inan  to  this  time.  Before,  things  were  in  a  kind  of 
preparatory  ftate  ;  but  now  they  are  in  a  finiftiing  ftate. 
It  is  tlie  winding  up  of  things  which  is  all  this  while 
accomplilhing.     An  end  is  now  brought  to  the  former 

carnal 


Intr.       The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.        243 

carnal  ftate  of  things,  which  by  degrees  vaniflics,  and  a 
fpi ritual  flaie  begins  t(3  be  eftabhfhed,    and  to  be  cfta- 
hlilhed   more  and  more.     Firft,  an  end  is  brought  to 
the  former  ftate  of  the  church,  which  may  be  called  its 
worldly  ft:ate,  the  ftate  wherein  it  was  fubjcrt  to  carnal 
ordinances,  and  the  rudiments  of  the  world  :  and  then 
avi  end  is  brought  to  the  Jewilh  ftate,  in  the  deftrudion 
of  their  city   and  country  :    and  then,  after    that,  an 
end  is  brought  to  the  old  Heathen  empire  in  Conftan- 
tine's  time  ;  which  is  another  and  further  degree  of  the 
winding  up  and  finifhing  of  the  world  :    and  the  next 
Hep  is  the  finifhing  of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom   in  the 
.world,  upon  the   fall  of  Aiitichrift,  and  the  calling  of 
the  Jews :    and    laft  will  come  the  deftru6Hon  of  the 
outward  frame  of  the  world  itfelf,  at  the  conclufion  of 
the  day  of  judgment.     But  the  world  is  all  this  while 
as  it  w^erc  a-finifjiing,  though  it  comes  to  an  end  by  fe- 
ycral  fteps  and  degrees.     Heaven  and   earth  began  to 
fhake,  in  order  to  a  diffolution,  according  to  tlie  pro- 
phecy  of  Haggai,  before  Chrift   carne,  that   fo  only 
thofe    things  that  cannot  be  fiiaken  may   remain,  i.  e. 
that  thofe  things  that  are  to  come  to  an  end  may  come 
to  an  end,  and  that  only  thofe  things  may  remain  which 
are  to  remain  to  all  eternity. 

So,  in  the  firft  place,  the  carnal  ordinances  of  the 
Jewifh  worfhip  came  to  an  end,  to  make  way  for  the 
eftablifliment  of  that  fpiritual  worfhip,  the  worfhip  of 
the  heart,  which  is  to  endure  to  all  eternity  :  John  iv. 
21.  "  Jefus  l^iith  unto  the  woman,  Believe  me,  the 
*'  hour  cometli,  when  ye  fhall  neither  in  this  m.oun- 
"  tain,  nor  yet  at  Jerufalem,  worfliip  the  Father." 
Verf.  23.  "  But  the  hour  cometh,  and  now  is,  when 
"  the  true  worfhippers  fhall  worfliip  the  Father  in  fpi- 
*'  rit  and  in  truth  :  for  the  Father  fcekcth  fuch  to  wor- 
*'  fillip  him."'  This  is  one  inftancc  of  the  temporary 
world's  coming  to  an  end,  and  the  eternal  world's  he- 
ginning.  And  then,  after  that,  the  outward  temple, 
and  the  outward  city  of  Jerufalem,  came  to  an  end,  to 
give  place  to  the  fetting  up  of  the  fpiritual  temple  and 
the  fpiritual  city,  which  are  to  laft  to  eternity  ;  which 
is  another  inftance  of  removing  thofe  things  which  are 
ready  to  vanifh  away,  that  thofe  things  which  cannot 
fcc  fhaken  may  remain.     And  then,  after  that,  the  old 

Heathen 


246  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  IIL 

Heathen  empire  comes  to  an  end,  to  make  way  for  the 
empire  of  Chrift,  which  fhall  laft  to  all  eternity;  which 
is  another  ftep  of  bringing  the  temporal  world  to  an 
end,  and  of  the  beginning  of  the  wodd  to  come,  which 
is  an  eternal  world.  A;id  after  that,  upon  the  fall  of 
Antichrift,  an  end  is  put  to  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on 
earth,  to  eftablifh  Chrift 's  kingdom,  which  is  an  eter- 
ual  kingdom  as  the  prophet  Daniel  fays,  chap.  vii.  27. 
*'  And  the  kingdom  and  dommion,  and  the  greatnefs  of 
*'  the  kingdom  under  the  whole  Heaven  fhall  be  given 
*^  to  the  people  of  the  faints  of  the  moft  High,  whofe 
*^  kingdom  is  an  everlafting  kingdom,  and  all  domi- 
"  nions  fhall  ferve  and  obey  hira  ;"  which  is  another 
inftance  of  the  ending  of  the  temporary  world,  and  the 
beginning  of  the  eternal  one.  And  then,  laftly,  the 
very  frame  of  this  corruptible  world  fhall  come  to  an 
end,  to  make  way  for  the  church  to  dwell  in  another 
dwelling-place,  which  fhall  laft  to  eternity;  which  is 
the  laft  inftance  of  the  fame  thing. 

B.ecauie  the  world  is  thus  coming  to  an  end  by  va- 
rious fteps  and  degrees,  the  Apoftle  perhaps  ufes  this 
exprefTion,  that  the  ends  of  the  world  are  come  on  us ; 
not  the  end^  but  the  ends,  of  the  plural  number,  as 
though  the  world  has  fev^ral  endings  one  after  anor 
$her. 

The  gofpel-difpenfation  is  the  laft  ftate  of  things  in 
the  world  ;  and  this  ftate  is  a  finifhing  ftate  ;  it  is  all 
(pent  in  finiftiing  things  off,  which  before  had  been 
preparing,  or  abolifliing  things  which  before  had 
ftood.  It  is  all  fpent  as  it  were  in  famming  things  up, 
and  bringing  them  to  their  iffues,  and  their  proper  ful- 
fihnent.  Now  all  the  old  types  are  fulfilled,  and  all  the 
prophecies  of  all  the  prophets  from  the  beginning  of 
the  world  fhall  be  accomplifhed  in  this  period. 

III.  That  ftate  of  things  which  is  attained  in  the 
events  of  this  period,  is  called  a  new  Heaven  and  a  new 
tarth:  If.  Ixv.  17.  18.  For,  behold,  I  create  new 
**  Heavens,  and  a  new  earth  :  and  the  former  ftiall  not 
*'  be  remembered,  nor  come  into  mind.  But  be  you 
*'  glad  and  rejoice  for  ever  in  that  which  I  create  :  for 
"  behold,  I  create  Jerufalem  a  rejoicing,  and  her  pco- 
"  pie  a  joy."  And  ch.  Ixvi.  22.  "  For  as  the  new 
''  Heavens  and  the  new  earth  which  I  make,  fhall  remaji) 

^'  before 


Intf.        The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       247 

•'  before  me  ;  fo  (liall  your  feed  and  your  name  re- 
"  main."  See  alfo  ch.  li.  16.  As  the  former  ftate  of 
things,  or  the  old  world,  by  one  flcp  afier  another,  is 
through  this  period  coming  to  an  end  :  fo  the  new  ftate 
of  things,  or  the  new  world,  which  is  a  fpiritual  world 
is  beginning  and  fetting  up. 

The  Heaven  and  earth  which  are  corruptible,  arc 
fhaking,  that  the  new  Heavens  and  new  earth,  which 
cannot  be  fliakcn,  may  be  eflablilhed  and  remain. 

In  confequence  of  each  of  thcfe  finiflilngs  of  the  old 
flate  of  things,  there  is  a  new  beginning  of  a  new  and 
eternal  ftate  of  things.  So  was  that  ^vhich  accompa- 
nied the  deftru6Hon  of  Jerufalem,  which  was  an  efta- 
blifliing  of  the  fpiritual  Jerufalem,  inftcad  of  the  literal. 
So  with  refpeft  to  the  deftruftion  of  the  old  Heathen 
empire,  and  all  the  other  endings  of  the  old  ftate  of 
things,  till  at  length  the  very  outward  frame  of  the  old 
world  itfelf  fhall  come  to  an  end ;  and  the  church  fhal! 
dwell  in  a  world  new  to  it,  or  to  a  great  part  of  it^ 
even  Heaven,  which  will  be  a  new  habitation  ;  and  then 
fhall  the  utmoft  be  accomplifhed  that  is  meant  by  the 
new  heavens  and  the  new  earth.     See  Rev^  xxi.  1. 

The  end  of  God's  creating  the  world  was  to  prepare 
a  kingdom  for  his  Son  (for  he  is  appointed  heir  of  the 
world)  and  that  he  might  have  the  poffefTion  of  it,  and 
a  kingdom  in  it,  which  fhould  remain  to  all  eternity. 
So  that,  fo  far  forth  as  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  is  fet  up 
in  the  w^orld,  fo  far  is  the  world  brought  to  its  end, 
and  the  eternal  ftate  of  things  fet  up.  So  far  are  all 
the  great  changes  and  revolutions  of  the  ages  of  the 
world  brought  to  their  everlafting  ifTuc,  and  all  things 
come  to  their  ultimate  period.  So  far  are  the  waters 
of  the  long  channel  of  divine  providence,  which  has  fa 
many  branches,  and  fo  many  windings  and  turnings, 
emptied  out  into  their  proper  ocean,  which  they  have 
been  feeking  from  the  beginning  and  head  of  their 
courfe,  and  fo  are  come  to  their  reft.  So  far  as  Chrift  "5; 
kingdom  is  eftablifhed  in  the  world,  fo  far  are  things 
wound  up  and  fettled  in  their  eveHafting  flate,  and  a 
period  put  to  the  courfe  of  tilings  in  this  changeable 
world;  fo  far  are  the  firft  Heavens  and  the  fiift  earth 
come  to  an  end,  and  the  new  Heavens  and  the  ne\v' 

caj'tb, 


248  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Period  III. 

earth,  the  everlalling  heavens  and  earth,  eflablifhed  in 
their  room. 

This  leads  me  to  obferve, 

IV.  That  the  ftate  of  things  which  is  attained  by  the 
events  of  this  period,  is  what  is  fo  often  called  the  king- 
(lorn  of  heaven,  or  the  kingdom  of  God,  We  very  often 
read  ni  the  New  Teftament  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
John  the  Baptift  preached,  that  the  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven was  at  hand ;  and  fo  did  Chrifl  and  his  difciples  af- 
ter him  ;  referring  to  fomething  that  the  Jews  in  thofe 
davs  expelled,  and  very  much  talked  of,  which  they 
called  by  that  namxC.  Thev  feem  to  have  taken  their 
expectation  and  the  name  chiefly  from  that  prophecy  of 
Daniel  in  Nebuchadnezzar's  dream,  Dan.  ii.  44.  "  And 
*'  in  the  days  of  thefe  kings  fliall  the  God  of  heaven  fet 
"  upakIngdom;"togetherwiththatinchap.  vii.  13.  14. 

Now  this  kingdom  of  heaven  is  that  evangelical  ftate 
of  things  In  his  church,  and  in  the  world,  wherein  con- 
fifts  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemption  in  this  period. 
There  had  been  often  great  kingdoms  fet  up  before, 
which  were  earthly  kingdoms  ;  as  the  Babylonilh,  the 
Perfian,  the  Grecian,  and  the  Roman  monarchies.  But 
Chrift  came  to  fet  up  the  laft  kingdom,  which  is  not  an 
earthly  kingdom,  but  an  heavenly,  and  fo  is  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  :  John  xviii.  36.  "  My  kingdom  is  not 
"  of  this  world."  This  is  the  kingdom  of  which  Chrift 
fpeaks,  Luke  xxii.  29.  "  My  father  hath  appointed  to 
"  me  a  kingdom."  This  kingdom  began  foon  after 
Chrift's  refurreftion,  and  was  accompliihed  in  various 
fteps  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  the  world.  Some- 
times by  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  is  meant  that  fpiritual 
ftate  of  the  church  which  began  foon  after  Chrift's  re- 
furreftion ;  fometimes  that  more  perfeft  ftate  of  the 
church  which  ftiall  obtain  after  the  downfal  of  Anti- 
clirlft  ;  and  fometimes  that  glorious  and  blefled  ftate  to 
which  the  church  fhall  be  received  at  the  day  of  judg- 
ment :  1  Cor.  XV.  50., the  apoftle,  fpcaking  of  the  rc- 
furreaion,  fays,  *'  This  I  fay,  that  flefli  and  blood  can- 
"  not  Inherit  the  kingdom  of  God." 

Under  this  head  I  would  obferve  feveral  things  parti- 
cularly, for  the  clearer  underftanding  of  what  the  fcrip- 
ture  favs  concerning  this  period. 

i.  The  fetting  uj)  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  is  chief- 
ly 


Intr.        The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       249 


ly  accompliflied  by  four  fuccefFive  great  events  eacli  oF 
which  is  in  fcripture  called  Chrijl's  coming  in  his  kingdom. 
The  whole  fuccef's  of  Chrilt's  redcmpiion  is  compre- 
hended in  one  word,  viz.  his  fetiing  up  his  kingdom. 
This  is  chiefly  done  by  four  great  fucceffive  difncnfir. 
tions  of  providence  ;  and  every  one  of  them  is  repre- 
fented  in  fcripture  as  Chrill's  coming  in  his  kingdom. 
The  firll;  is  Chrifl's  appearing  in  thofe  wonderful  difpen- 
fations  of  providence  in  the  apoillcs  days,  in  fetting  up 
his  kingdom,  and  deflroying  the  enemies  of  his  kmg- 
dom,  which  ended  in  the  dellruftion  of  Jerufalem. — ■ 
This  is  called  Chrift's  coming  in  his  kingdom,  Matth. 
xvi.  28.  "  Verily  I  fay  unto  you,  there  be  fome  fland- 
*'  ing  here,  which  fhall  not  tafte  of  death  till  they 
*'  fee  the  Son  of  man  coming  in  his  kingdom."  And 
fo  it  is  reprefented  in  Matth.  xxiv.  The  fecond  is  that 
which  was  accompliihed  in  Conftantinc's  time,  in  the 
dellruftion  of  the  Heathen  Roman  empire.  This  is  re- 
prefented as  Chrill's  coming,  and  is  compared  to  his 
coming  to  judgment,  in  the  6th  chapter  of  Revclatioa 
at  the  latter  end.  The  diird  is  that  which  is  to  be  ac- 
complifhed  at  the  dellruftion  of  Antichrill.  This  alfo 
is  reprefented  as  Chrifl's  coming  in  his  kingdom  in  the 
7th  chapter  of  Daniel,  and  in  other  places,  as  I  may 
poffibly  fhow  hereafter,  when  I  come  to  fpeak  of  it. 
The  fourth  and  lall  is  his  coming  to  the  laft  judgment, 
which  is  the  event  principally  fignified  in  fcripture  by 
Chiiji's  coming  in  his  kingdom. 

2.  I  would  obferve  that  each  of  the  tliree  former  of 
diefe  is  a  lively  image  or  type  of  the  fourth  and  lafl, 
viz.  Chrill's  coming  to  the  final  judgment,  as  the  princi- 
pal difpenfations  of  providence   before    Chrill's   firft 

coming  were  types  of  that  firll  coming. As  Chrill's 

laft  coming  to  judgment  is  accompanied  with  a  refur- 
reftion  of  the  dead,  fo  is  each  of  the  three  foregoing 
with  a  fpiritual  refurreftion.  That  coming  of  Chrift 
which  ended  in  the  dellruftion  of  Jerufalem,  was  pre- 
ceded by  a  glorious  fpiritual  refurre6lion  of  fouls  in  the 
calling  of  the  Gentiles,  and  bringing  home  fuch  multi- 
tudes of  fouls  to  Chrift  by  the  preaching  of  the  gofpel. 
So  Chrift's  coming  in  Conftantine's  time,  was  accom- 
panied with  a  glorious  fpiritual  refurreftion  of  the  great- 
er part  of  the  known  world,  in  a  reftoration  of  it  to  a 
Y  f  vifible 


2^0  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  OF  Period  III. 

vifible  church  ftate,  from  a  ftate  of  Heathenifm.  So 
Chriil's  coming  at  the  deflruftion  of  Antichrift,  will  be 
attended  with  a  fpiritual  refurreftron  of  the  church  af- 
ter it  had  been  long  as  it  were  dead,  in  the  times  of 
Antichrift.  This  is  called  the^r/?  reJurreBion  in  the 
20th  chapter  of  Revelation. 

Again,  as  Chrift  in  the  lafl  judgment  will  glorioufly 
man! fell  himfelf  coming  in  the  glory  of  his  Father,  fo 
in  each  of  the  three  foregoing  events  Chrift  glorioufly 
nianifefted  himfelf  in  fending  judgm.enls  upon  his  ene- 
mies, and  in  fhowing  grace  and  favour  to  his  church ; 
and  as  the  laft  coming  of  Chrift  will  be  attended  w^ith  a 
literal  gathering  together  of  the  eleft  from  the  four 
winds  of  heaven,  fo  were  each  of  the  preceding  attended 
with  a  fpiritual  gathering  in  of  the  eleft.  As  this  ga- 
thering together  of  the  eleft  will  be  effefted  by  God's 
angels  with  a  great  found  of  a  trumpet,  as  in  Matth. 
xxiv.  31.  fo  were  each  of  the  preceding  fpiritual  inga- 
therings efFefted  by  the  trumpet  of  the  gofpel,  founded 
by  the  minifters  of  Chrift.  As  there  fhall  precede  the 
laft  appearance  of  Chrift,  a  time  of  great  degeneracy 
and  wickednefs,  fo  this  has  been,  or  will  be,  the  cafe 
with  each  of  the  other  appearances.  Before  each  of 
them  is  a  time  of  great  oppofition  to  the  church  :  be- 
fore the  firft,  by  the  Jews,  in  their  perfecutrons  that  we 
read  of  in  the  New  Teftament ;  befo-re  the  fecond,  viz. 
in  Conftantine's  time,  by  the  Heathen,  in  feveral  fuccef- 
five  perfecutions  raifed  by  the  Roman  emperors  againft 
the  Chriftians ;  before  the  third  by  Antichrift  ;  and  be- 
fore the  laft,  by  Gog  and  Magog,  as  defcribed  in  the 
Revelation. 

By  each  of  thefe  comings  of  Chrift  God  works  a: 
glorious  deliverance  for  his  church.  Each  of  them  is 
accompanied  with  a  glorious  advancement  of  the  ftate 
of  the  church.  The  firft,  which  ended  in  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  Jerufalem,  was  attended  with  bringing  the 
ehurch  into  the  glorious  ftate  of  the  gofpel,  a  glorious 
Hate  of  the  church  very  much  prophefied  of  old,  where- 
by the  church  was  advanced  into  far  more  glorious  cir-- 
cumftances  than  it  M^as  in  before  under  the  Jewifli  dif- 
penfation.  The  fecond,  which  was  in  Conftantine's 
time,  was  accompanied  with  an  advancement  of  the 
church  into  a  ftaie  of  liberty  from  perfecution,  and  the 

countenance 


Jntr.  i.      The  Wo r k  o f  REDEMPTION.      2  r,  t 


countenance  of  civil  authority,  and  triumph  over  their 
Heathen  perfecutors.  The  third,  which  Ihall  he  at  the 
downfal  of  Antichrift,  will  he  accompanied  witli  an 
advancement  of  the  church  into  that  Itate  of  the  glo- 
rious prevalence  of  truth,  liberty,  peace,  and  joy,  that 
we  fo  often  read  of  in  the  prophetical  parts  of  fcripture. 
The  lafl;  will  be  atter^ded  with  the  advancement  of  the 
.church  to  confummate  glory  in  both  foul  and  body  in 
heaven. 

Each  of  thefe  comings  of  Chrifl  is  accompanied  with 
a  terrible  deflruftion  of  the  wicked,  and  the  enemies  of 
the  church  :  the  firft,  with  the  deftru6Uon  of  the  perfe- 
cuting  Jews,  w^hich  was  amazingly  terrible ;  the  fecond, 
with  dreadful  judgments  on  the  Heathen  perfecutors  of 
the  church,  of  which  more  hereafter;  the  third,  with 
the  awful  deftruftion  of  Antichrift,  the  mofl  cruel  and 
bitter  enemy  that  ever  the  church  had  ;  the  fourth,  with 
divine  wrath  and  vengeance  on  all  the  ungodly. 

Further,  there  is  in  each  of  thefe  cominp's  of  Chrilt 
and  ending  of  the  old  Heavens  and  the  old  earth,  and  a 
beginning  ot  new  Heavens  and  a  new  earth  ;  or  an  end 
of  a  temporal  flate  of  things,  and  a  beginning  of  an 
jeternal  ftate. 

3.  I  w^ould  obferve,  that  each  of  tliofe  four  great  dif- 
penfations  which  are  reprefented  as  Chrift's  coming  in 
his  kingdom,  are  but  fo  many  fteps  and  degrees  of  the 
accomplifhment  of  one  event.  They  are  not  the  fetting 
up  of  fo  many  diftinft  kingdoms  of  Chrid  ;  they 
are  all  of  them  only  feveral  degrees  of  the  accomplifh- 
ment of  that  one  event  prophefied  of,  Dan.  vii.  13.  14, 
*'  And  I  faw  in  the  night-vifions,  and  behold,  one  like 
*'  the  Son  of  man,  camiC  with  the  clouds  of  Heaven,  and 
"  came  to  the  Ancient  of  days,  and  they  brought  him 
"  near  before  him.  And  there  was  given  him  doniinion, 
*'  and  glory,  and  a  kingdom,  that  ail  people,  nations, 
*'  and  languages,  fliould  ferve  him  :  his  dominion  is  aii 
*'  everlafting  dominion,  and  his  kingdom  that  which 
*'  fhall  not  be  dellroyed."  This  is  what  the  Jews  ex- 
pelled, and  called  "  the  coming  of  the  kingdom  of  Hea- 
"  ven  ;"  and  what  John  the  Baptift  and  Chrlft  had  ref- 
pe6f  to,  when  they  faid,  "  The  kingdom  of  Heaven  is  at 
*'  hand.''  This  great  event  is  gradually  accomplifiicd, 
jpx  is  accompliihing  by  feveral  Heps.  Thofe  four  gre^t; 
F  f  3  e\-^ni.5 


.  :^  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  OF         '  Periodlll. 

'cents  ^\-hich  have  been  mentioned,  were  feveral  fteps 
towards  the  accomplilliment  of  this  grand  event. 

When  Chrift  tame  with  the  preaching  of  the  apofiles, 
to  fet  up  his  kingdom  in  the  world,  which  dif|3enfation 
ended  with  the  definition  of  Jerufalem,  then  it  was 
accomphPned  in  a  glorious  degree  ;  when  the  Heathen 
empire  was  deflroyed  in  Conlbntine's  time,  it  was  ful- 
filled in  a  further  degree ;  when  Antichrift  fliall  be 
deftroyed,  it  will  be  accomplifhed  in  a  yet  higher  de- 
gree :  but  when  the  end  of  the  w-orld  is  come,  then 
will  it  be  accomplifhed  in  its  mofl  perfeft  degree  of  all; 
then  it  will  be  finally  and  comipletely  accomxplifhed. 
And  becaufe  thefe  four  great  events  are  but  images  one 
of  another,  and  the  three  former  but  types  of  the  laff, 
and  fince  they  are  all  only  feveral  fleps  of  the  accom- 
plifhment  of  the  fame  thing ;  hence  w^e  find  them  all 
from  timie  to  time  prophefied  of  under  one,  as  they  are 
in  the  prophecies  of  Daniel,  and  as  they  are  in  the  24th 
chapter  of  Matthew,  where  fome  things  feemmore  ap- 
plicable to  one  of  them,  and  others  to  another. 

4.  I  would  obferve,  that  as  there  are  feveral  fleps  of 
the  accomplifhment  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrifl,  fo  in 
each  one  of  them  the  event  is  accomplifhed  in  a  further 
degree  than  in  the  foregoing.  That  in  the  time  of  Con- 
llantine  was  a  greater  and  further  accomplifliment  of 
the  kingdom  of  Chrifl,  than  that  which  ended  in  the 
defiruftion  of  Jerufalem  ;  that  which  fhall  be  at  the 
fall  of  Antichrill,  will  be  a  further  accomplifhment  of 
the  farriC  thing,  than  that  which  took  place  in  the  time 
of  Con  flam  ine  ;  and  fo  on  with  regard  to  each :  fo  that 
the  kingdom  of  Chrifl  is  gradually  prev^ailing  and  grow- 
ing by  thefe  feveral  great  fleps  of  its  fulfilment,  from 
the  time  of  Chrifl's  refurre6Hon,  to  the  end  of  the 
world. 

5.  and  laflly,  It  mav  be  obfer\^ed,  that  the  great  pro- 
vidences of  God  between  thefe  four  great  events,  are 
to  make  way  for  the  kingdom  and  glory  of  Chrifl  in 
the  great  event  following.  Thofe  difpenfations  of  pro- 
vidence which  were  to^vards  the  church  of  God  and  the 
world,  before  the  deflruclion  of  the  Heathen  empire 
in  the  time  of  Conflantine,  feem  all  to  have  been  to 
make  w?y  for  the  glory  of  Chrifl,  and  the  happinefs  of 
the  church  in  that  event.     And  fo  the  great  provide-n- 

ces 


Ihtr.       The  Work  o?  REDEMPTION.       0^3 

ces  of  God,  which  are  after  that,  till  the  dcfl ruction  of 
Antichrift,  and  the  beginning  of  the  glorious  times  of 
the  church  which  follow,  feem  all  to  be  to  prepare  the 
way  for  the  greater  glory  of  Cluill  and  his  church  in 
that  event;  and  the  providences  of  God  which  Ihall  be 
after  that  to  the  end  of  the  world,  feem  to  he  for  tlie 
-greater  maniieilation  of  Chrlli's  glory  at  the  end  of  the 
world,  and  in  the  confummation  of  all  things. 

Thus  1  thought  it  needful  to  obferve  thofe  tilings  in 
general,  concerning  this  lall  period  of  the  ferics  of 
God's  providence,  before  I  take  notice  of  the  particu- 
lar providences  by  which  the  work  of  redemption  is 
carried  on  through  this  period,  in  their  order:  and  be- 
fore I  do  that,  I  will  alfo  briefly  anfwer  to  an  inquiry, 
viz.  Why  the  fetting  up  of  Chrift's  kingdom  after  his 
humiliation,  fliould  be  fo  gradual,  by  fo  many  Heps  that 
are  fo  long  in  accomplilhing,  fince  God  could  eafil/ 
have  finifhed  it  at  once  ? 

•  Though  it  would  be  prefumption  in  us  to  pretend  to 
(declare  all  the  ends  of  God  in  this,  yet  doubtlefs  much 
of  the  wifdom  of  God  may  be  feen  in  it  by  us  ;  and 
particularly  in  thefe  two  things. 

1.  In  this  way  the  glory  of  God's  wifdom,  in  ihe 
manncr'of  doinir  this,  is  more  vifible  to  the  obfervation 
of  creatures.  If  it  had  been  done  at  once,  m  an  m- 
ftant,  or  in  a  very  fliort  time,  there  would  not  have  been 
fuch  opportunities  for  creatures  to  perceive  and  obferve 
the  pavticularfleps  of  divine  wifdom,  as  when  the  work 
is  gradually  accompliflied,  and  one  eiretf  of  his  wif- 
dom is  held  forth  to  obfervation  after  another.  It  is 
wifely  determined  of  God,  to  accomplifli  his  great  dc^ 
fignby  a  wonderful  and  long  feriesof  events,  that  die 
glory  of  his  wifdom  may  be  dif])layed  in  the  whole  fe- 
ries,  and  that  the  glory  of  his  perfe6fions  may  be  feen, 
sippearinff,  as  it  were  by  parts,  and  in  particular  fuccef- 
five  manifeftations :  for  if  all  that  glory  which  appears 
in  all  thefe  events  had  been  manifefled  at  once,  it  would 
-have  been  too  much  for  us,  and  more  than  we  at  once 
xould  take  notice  of;  it  would  have  dazzled  our  e\es 
and  overpowered  our  fight. 

2.  Satan    is  more  glorioufiy    triumphed   over. ■ 

-God  could  eafily,  by  an  aft  of' almighty  power,  at  once 
?have  cruflred  Satan.    But  by  giving  him  time  to  ufe  his 

^  •  •  '  utmoft 


:-31  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  IIL 

utmoft  fubtilty  to  hinder  the  fuccefs  of  what  Chrift  had 
clone  and  fufFered,  he  is  not  defeated  merely  by  fur- 
prize,  but  has  large  opportunity  to  ply  his  utmoft  power 
and  fubtilty  again  and  again,  to  ftrengthen  his  own  in- 
tcreft  all  that  he  can  by  the  work  of  many  ages.  Thus 
God  dellroys  and  confounds  hira,  and  fets  up  Chrift  s 
kingdom  time  after  time,  in  fpite  of  all  his  fubtle  machi- 
nations and  great  works,  and  by  every  ftep  advances  it 
ftiil  higher  and  higher,  till  at  length  it  is  fully  fet  up, 
and  Satan  perfeftly  and  eternally  vanquifhed  in  the  end 
of  all  things. 

I  now  proceed  to  take  notice  of  the  particular  events, 
whereby,  from  the  end  of  Chrift's  humiliation  to  the 
end  of  the  world,  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  has 
been,  orlhall  be  accompliihed. 

1.  I  would  take  notice  of  thofe  things  whereby  Chrift 
was  put  into  an  immediate  capacity  for  accomplilhing 
the  end  of  his  purchafe. 

2.  I  would  Ihow  how  he  obtained  or  accomplifhed 
that  liiccefs. 


PART        I. 

I  WOULD  take  notice,  firft,  of  thofe  things  by  which 
Chrift  was  put  into  a  capacity  for  accomplifhing  the 
end  of  his  purchafe.  And  they  are  two  things,  viz.  his 
rcfurreftion,  and  his  afcenfion.  As  we  obferved  before 
the  incarnation  of  Chrift  was  necelfary  in  order  to 
Chrift's  being  in  a  near  capacity  for  the  purchafe  of  re- 
demption ;  fo  the  refurre6tion  and  afcenfion  of  Chrift 
were  requifue  in  order  to  his  accomplifhing  the  fuccefs 
of  his  purchafe. 

I,  His  refurreftion.  It  was  neceffary  in  order  to 
Chrift's  obtaining  the  end  and  effeft  of  his  purchafe  of 
redemption,  that  he  fliould  rife  from  the  dead.  For 
God  the  Father  had  committed  the  whole  affair  of  re- 
demption, not  only  the  purchafmg  of  it,  but  the  be- 
ftowing  of  the  bleflings  purchafed  to  his  Son,  that  he 
fhould  not  only  purchafe  it  as  prieft,  but  aftually  bring 
it  about  as  king ;  and  that  he  fhould  do  this  as  God- 
HMn.     For  God  the  Father  would  have  nothing  to  dQ 

with 


Part  I.      ^HE  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      255 

with  fallen  man  in  a  way  of  mercy  but  by  a  mediator. 
But  in  order  that  Chrill  might  carry  on  the  work  of  re- 
demption, and  accompiifh  the  fuccefs  of  his  own  pur- 
chafe  as  God-man,  it  was  necellary  that  he  Oiouid  be 
alive,  and  fo  that  he  Ihould  rife  from  the  dead.  There- 
fore Chrift,  after  he  had  finifhed  this  purchafe  by  death, 
and  by  continuing  for  a  time  under  the  power  of  death, 
rifes  from  the  dead,  to  fulfil  the  end  of  his  purchafe, 
and  himfelf  to  bring  about  that  for  which  he  died  : 
for  this  matter  God  the  Father  had  committed  unto 
him,  that  he  might,  as  Lord  of  all,  manage  all  to  hi* 
own  purpofes  :  Rom.  xiv.  9.  "  For  to  this  end  Chrift 
•'  both  died,  and  rofe,  and  revived,  that  he  might 
•*  be  Lord  both  of  the  dead  and  of  the  living." 

Indeed  Chrill's  refurre6Hon,  and  fo  his  afccnfion, 
■was  part  of  the  fuccefs  of  what  Chrift  did  and  fuffercd 
in  his  humilia-tion.  For  though  Chrift  did  not  pro- 
perly purchafe  redemption  for  himfelf,  yet  he  purcha- 
fed  eternal  hfe  and  glory  for  himfelf  by  what  he  did 
and  fuffered  ;  and  this  eternal  life  and  glory  was  given 
him  as  a  reward  of  what  he  did  and  fuffered :  Phil.  ii. 
8.  9.  "  He  humbled  himfelf,  and  became  obedient  un- 
**  to  death,  even  the  death  of  the  crofs.  Wherefore 
*'  God  alfo  hath  highly  exalted  him."  And  it  may  be 
looked  upon  as  part  of  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe, 
if  it  be  confidered,  that  Chrift  did  not  rife  as  a  private 
perfon,  but  as  the  head  of  the  elecf  church  ;  fo  that 
they  did,  as  it  were,  all  rife  with  him.  Chrift  was  juf- 
tified  in  his  refurre£lion,  i.  e.  God  acquitted  and  dif- 
charged  him  hereby,  as  having  done  and  fuffered  e- 
nough  for  the  fins  of  all  the  eleft  :  Rom.  iv.  2.5.  "  Who 
"  was  delivered  for  our  offences,  and  raifed  again  for 
"  our  juftification."  And  God  put  him  in  pofteffion 
€>f  eternal  life,  as  the  head  of  the  church,  as  a  hu-eear- 
neft  that  they  fhould  follow.  For  when  Chrift  rofcr 
from  the  dead,  that  was  the  beginning  of  eternal  life  in 
him.  His  life  before  his  death  was  a  mortal  life,  a 
temporal  life;  but  his  life  after  his  refurrehion  was  an 
eternal  life:  Rom.  vi.  g.  "Knowing  that  Clnift  being 
**  raifed  from  the  dead,  dieth  no  more  ;  death  hath  no 
*'  more  dominion  over  him,"  Rev.  i.  18.  "I  am  he 
**  that  liveth,  and  was  dead  ;  and  behold,  I  am  aUve  for 
**  evermore,  a:iicn."~-But  he  v/as  put  in  poffc'Iiou 

of 


A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Perirjd  IIL 

ci  this  eternal  life,  as  the  head  of  the  body  ;  and  took 
poilellion  of  it,  not  only  to  enjoy  himfelf,  but  to  be- 
flow  on  all  who  believe  in  him  :  fo  that  the  whole 
church  as  jt  were  rifes  in  him.  And  now  he  who  lately 
lliffered  fo  much,  after  this  is  to  fuffer  no  more  for 
ever,  but  to  enter  into  eternal  glory.  God  the  Father 
neither  expefts  nor  defiics  any  more  fuffering. 

This  refurreftion  of  Chrill  is  tlie  moft  joyful  event 
that  ever  came  to  pafs ;  becaufe  hereby  Chrift  reded 
f.rom  the  great  and  difiicult  work  of  purchahng  re- 
demption, and  received  God's  teftimony,  that  it  was 
finifhed.  The  death  of  Ghrill  was  the  greatefl  and  molt 
wonderful  event  that  ever  came  to  pafs ;  but  that  has 
a  great  deal  in  it  that  is  forrowful.  But  by  the  refur- 
re6lion  of  Chrift,  that  forrow  is  turned  into  joy.  The 
head  of  the  whole  church,  in  that  great  event,  en- 
ters on  the  poITeffion  of  eternal  life ;  and  the  whole 
church  i^,  as  it  were,  "  begotten  again  to  a  lively  hope," 
t  Pet.  i.  3.  Weeping  had  continued  for  a  night,  but 
now  joy  Cometh  in  the  morning,  the  moft  joyful 
morning  that  ever  -was.  This  is  the  day  of  the  reign- 
ing of  the  head  of  the  church,  and  all  the  church 
rei'^ns  with  him.  This  is  fpoken  of  as  a  day  which  was* 
worthy  to  be  commemorated  with  thegreateft  joy  of  all 
davs  :  Pfal.  cxviii.  24.  "  This  is  the  day  which  the  Lord 
"  hath  made,  we  will  rejoice  and  be  glad  in  it."  And 
therefore,  this  above  all  other  days,  is  appointed  for  the 
day  of  the  church's  fpiritual  rejoicing  to  the  end  of  the 
world,  to  be  weekly  fanftified,  as  their  day  of  holy  reft: 
and  joy,  that  the  church  therein  may  reft  and  rejoice 
with  her  head.  And  as  the  3d  chapter  of  Genefis  is 
the  moft  forrowful  chapter  in  the  Bible ;  fo  thofe  chap- 
ters in  the  Evangelifts  that  give  an  accoimt  of  the  refur^ 
reclion  of  Chrift,  may  be  looked  upon  as  the  moft, 
joyful  chapters  in  all  the  Bible ;  for  thofe  chapters  give 
an  account  of  the  finifning  of  the  purchafe  of  redemp- 
tion, and  the  beginning  of  the  glory  of  the  head  of  the 
church,  as  the  greateft  feal  and  earneft  of  the  eternal 
gloFv'-  of  all  the  reft. 

It  is'furlher  to  be  obfervcd,  that  the  day  of  the  gofpcl 
moft  proDcrly  begins  with  the  refurreftion  of  Chrift. 
—Till  Chrift  rofe  from  the  dead,  the  Old  Teftaraent 
difpcnfaiion  remained :  but  now  it  ceafes,  all  being  ful^ 

filled 


Part  I.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION,      ott 

filled  that  was  fhadowcd  forth  in  the.  t\plca]  ordiiinnrcs 
of  that  difpcnfation  :  fo  that  here  moii  properly  is  the 
end  of  the  Old  Teilament  night,  and  Cinifl  rihiig  from 
the  grave  with  joy  and  glory,  was  as  the  joyful  "bride- 
groom of  the  church,  as  a  glorious  conqueror  to  fub- 
due  their  enemies  under  their  feet;  br  was  like  the  fun 
rifing  as  it  were  from  under  the  earth,  after  a  long 
night  of  darknefs,  and  coming  forth  as  a  brideo-room, 
prepared  as  a  ftrong  man  to  run  his  race,  appearino-  in 
joyful  light  to  enlighten  the  world.  Now  that  joyful 
and  excellent  difpcnfation  begins,  that  glorious  difpcn- 
fation, of  which  the  prophets  prophefied  fo  much ; 
now  the  gofpel-fun  is  rifen  in  glory,  "  and  with  healing 
**  in  his  wings,"'  that  thofe  who  fear  God's  name,  may 
*'  go  forth,  and  grow  up  as  calves  of  the  flail." 

II.  Chrill's  afccnfion  into  heaven.  In  this  I  would 
include  his  fitting  at  the  right  hand  of  God.  For 
Chrift's  afcenfion,  and  fittmg  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 
can  fcarcely  be  looked  upon  as  two  diiiinti  things:  for 
Chrift's  afcenfion  was  nothing  elfe,  but  afcending  to 
God's  right  hand  ;  it  was  his  coming  to  fit  down  at  his 
Father's  right  hand  in  glor)\  This  was  anodier  thing 
whereby  Chrift  was  put  into  a  capacity  for  the  accom- 
plifhing  the  eife6l  of  his  purchafe ;  as  one  that  comes  to 
be  a  deliverer  of  a  people  as  their  king,  in  order  to  it. 
and  that  he  may  be  under  the  heft  capacity  for  it,  is 
firft  inftalled  in  his  throne.  We  are  told,  that  Chriih 
was  exalted  for  this  end,  that  he  might  accomplifh  the 
fuccefs  of  his  redemption :  Acls  v.  31.  "  Him  hath 
"  God  exalted  with  his  right  hand,  for  to  give  repent- 
"  ance  unto  Ifrael,  and  the  remifTion  of  f  ns." 

Chrift's  afcenfion  into  Heaven  was  as  it  were,  his  fo- 
lemn  enthronization,  whereby  the  Father  did  fet  him 
upon  the  throne,  and  inveft  him  with  the  glory  of  his 
kingdom  which  he  had  purchafed  for  himfelf,  that  he 
might  therebv  obtain  the  fuccefs  of  his  redemption  in 
conquering  all  his  enemies  :  Plal.  ex.  1.  "  Sit  thou 
*'  at  my  right  hand,  until  I  make  thine  enemies  thy 
"  footftool."  Chrift  entered  into  Heaven,  in  order  to 
obtain  the  fuccefs  of  his  purchafe,  as  the  high  prieft  of 
old,  after  he  had  offered  lacrifice,  entered  into  the 
holy  of  holies  with  the  blood  of  the  lacrifice,  in  or- 
der to  obtain  the  fuccefs  of  the  facrifice  which  he  had 
G  "•  offered. 


8  AHISTORYoF  Period  IIL 

"ered.     See  Heb.  ix.  12.     He  entered  into  Heaven, 

:ie  to  make  iriLerceflion  for  his  people,  to  plead  the 

rifice  which  he  had  made  in  order  to  the  fucceis  of 

Heb.  vii.  25. 

And  as  he  afcended  into  Heaven,  God  the  Father  did 
in  a  vifible  manner  fet  him  on  the  throne  as  king  of  the 
vmiverfe.  He  then  put  the  angels  all  under  him,  and 
fubjefted  Heaven  and  earth  under  him,  that  he  might 
govern  them  for  the  good  of  the  people  for  whom  he 
had  died,  Eph.  i.  20.  21.  22. 

And  as  Chrift  rofe  from  the  dead,  fo  he  afcended 
into  Heaven  as  the  head  of  the  body  and  forerunner  of 
all  the  church ;  and  fo  they,  as  it  were,  afcend  with 
him,  as  well  as  rife  with  him :  fo  that  we  are  both  rai- 
fed  up  together,  and  made  to  fit  together  in  heavenly 
places  in  Chrift,  Eph.  ii,  6. 

The  day  of  Chrift's  afcenfion  into  Heaven  was  doubt- 
lefs  a  joyful,  glorious  day  in  Heaven.  And  as  Heaven 
received  Chrilf,  God-man,  as  its  king,  fo  doubtlefs  it 
jeceived  a  great  acceffion  of  glory  and  happinefs,  far 
beyond  what  it  had  before.  So  that  the  times  in  both 
parts  of  the  church,  both  that  part  which  is  in  Heaven, 
and  alfo  that  which  is  on  earth,  are  become  more  glo- 
rious fince  Chrift's  humiliation  than  before. 

So  much  for  thcfe  things  w^hereby  Chrift:  was  put 
into  the  beft  capacity  for  obtaining  the  fuccefs  of  re- 
demptioHr 

PART        II. 

I  NOW  proceed  to  (how  how  he  accomplifhed  this 
fuccefs.  And  here  I  would  obferve,  that  this  fuccefs 
confifts  in  two  things,  viz.  either  in  grace,  or  in  glory. 
That  fuccefs  which  confifts  in  the  former,  is  to  be  i^een 
in  thofe  works  of  God  which  are  wrought  during  thofc 
ages  of  the  church  wherein  the  church  is  continued 
luider  the  outward  means  of  grace.  That  fuccefs  which 
confifts  in  the  latter  of  thefe,  viz.  glory,  has  its  chief 
accompliihment  at  the  day  of  judgment. 

SECT.        I. 

I  WOULD  firft  confider  the  former  kind  of  fuccefs, 
confining  in  God's  grace  here  j  which  mainly  appears 

in 


Part  II.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     2^59 

in  the  works  of  God  during  the  time  that  the  Chrillian 
churcli  continues  nnder  the  means  of  grace  ;  which  is 
from  Chrifl's  refiirredion  to  his  appearing  in  the  clouds 
of  Heaven  to  judgment ;  which  inchides  the  three  for- 
mer of  thofe  great  events  of  providence  before-men- 
tioned, which  are  called  Cliri/l's  coming  in  las  kingdom. 
In  fpeaking  of  this  fucccfs,  I  would, 

1.  Mention  thofe  things  by  which  the  means  of  this 
fuccefs  were  eilablifhed  after  Chrill's  refurrehion  ;  and, 

2.  Confider  the  fuccefs  itfelf. 

§  I.  I  would  confider  thofe  difpenfations  of  provi- 
dence, by  which  the  means  of  this  fuccefs  were  eila- 
blilhed  after  Chrift's  refurreftion. 

I.  The  abolifhing  of  the  Jewifli  difpenfation.  This 
indeed  was  gradually  done,  but  it  began  from  the  time 
of  Chrift's  refurreftion,  in  which  the  abolition  of  it  is 
founded.  This  was  the  firft  thing  done  towards  bring-; 
ing  the  former  ftate  of  the  world  to  an  end.  This  is 
to  be  looked  upon  as  the  great  means  of  the  fuccefs  of 
Chrift's  redemption.  For  the  Jewifli  difpenfation  was 
not  fitted  for  more  than  one  nation  :  it  was  not  fitted 
for  the  pra61ice  of  the  world  in  general,  or  for  a  church 
of  God  dwelling  in  all  parts  of  the  world :  nor  would 
it  have  been  in  any  wife  prafticable  by  them;  it  would 
have  been  impofTible  for  men  living  in  all  parts  of  the 
world  to  go  to  Jerufalem  three  times  a-year,  as  was  pre- 
fcribed  in  that  conftitution.  When  therefore  God  had 
a  defign  of  enlarging  his  church,  as  he  did  after  Chrifl's 
refurreftion,  it  was  neceffary  that  this  difpenfation 
fhould  be  abolifhed.  If  it  had  been  continued,  it 
w^ould  have  been  a  great  block  and  hindrance  to  the , 
enlargeinent  of  the  church.  And  befides,  tlieir  cere- 
monial law,  bv  reafon  of  its  burdenfomenels,  and  great 
peculiarity  of  fome  of  i's  rites,  was  as  it  were  a  wall  of 
partition,  and  was  the  grgund  of  enmitv  between  the 
Jews  and  Gentiles,  and  would  have  kept  the  Gentiles 
from  complying  with  the  true  religion.  This  wall 
tlierefore  was  broken  down  to  make  way  for  the  more 
extenfive  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  ;  as  Eph.  ii.  14.  15. 

MI.  The  next  thing  in  order  of  time  feems  to  be  the 
appointment  of  the  Chriftian  fabbath.    For  though  this, 
v/as  gradually  eftabliihed  in  the  Chriftian  church,   ;>-ct 
O  ^  ^  tl^iofe 


L 


So  AHISTORYoF  Period  III. 


things  by  which  the  revelation  of  God's  mind 
v.ill  was  made,  began  on  the  day  of  Chrift's  refur- 
retiK  n,  by  his  appearing  then  to  his  difciples,  John 
XX.  19.  and  was  afterwards  confirmed  by  his  appear- 
ing from  time  to  time  on  that  day  rather  than  any 
other,  John  xx.  26.  and  by  his  fending  down  the  Ho- 
ly Spirit  fo  remarkably  on  that  day,  Afts  ii.  1.  and 
afterwards  in  directing  that  public  alfemblies  arid  the 
public  worfhip  of  Chrillians  (liould  be  on  that  day, 
which  may  be  concluded  from  A8.$  xx.  7.  1  Cor.  xyi.  1. 
2.  and  Rev.  i.  10.  And  fo  the  day  of  the  week  on 
which  Chrilt  rofe  from  the  dead,  that  joyful  day,  is  ap- 
pointed to  be  the  day  of  the  church's  holy  rejoicing  to 
the  end  of  the  world,  and  the  day  of  their  ftated  public 
worfliip.  And  this  is  a  very  great  and  principal  means 
of  the  luccefs  which  the  gofpei  has  had  in  the  world. 

III.  The  next  thing  was  Chrift's  appointmicnt  of 
the  gofpel-miniftry,  and  commiffionating  and  fending 
forth  his  apollles  to  teach  and  baptize  all  nations. — 
Of  thefe  things  we  have  an  account  in  Matth.  xxviii. 
19.  20.  "  Go  ye,  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations, 
**  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and 
*'  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghofl  ;  teaching 
*'  them  to  obferve  all  things  whatfoever  I  have  com- 
*'  manded  you  :  and  lo,   I  ami  ^vith   you  alway,  even 

*'  unto  the  end  of  the   world." There  v/ere  three 

things  done  by  this  one  inllru^Hon  and  commifTion  of 
Chriii:  to  hir,  apollles,' viz. 

1.  The  appointment  of  the  office  of  the  gofpel-miini- 
llry.  For  this  commiffion  which  Chrift  gives  to  his 
apollles,  in  the  moft  eflential  parts  of  it,  belongs  to  all 
mini  Hers  ;  and  the  apollles,  by  virtue  of  it,  were  mini- 
iters  or  eiders  of  the  church. 

2.  Here  is  fomething  peculiar  in  this  commiffion  of 
the  apoliles,  viz.  to  go  forth  from  one  nation  to  an- 
other, preaching  the  golpef  in  all  the  world.  The  apo- 
fllcs  had  fomething  above  what  belonged  to  their  or- 
dinary chara6^ers  as  minifters;  they  had  an  extraordi- 
nary power  of  teaching  and  ruling,  which  extended  to 
all  the  churches  ;  and  not  only  all  the  churches  which 
then  were,  but  all  that  fhould  be  to  the  end  of  the 
world  by  their  miniftry.  And  fo  the  apollles  were,  as 
it  were,  in  fubordination  to  Chrifl,  made  foundations  of 
the  Chriilian  church.  See  Eph.  ii.  20.  and  Rev.  xxi.  14. 
"■ -  .    ' ' • '      2'  Here 


Partll.  1.     The  V/ork  of  REDEMPTION.    261 

3.  Herds  an  appointment  of  Chriftlan  baptlfm.  'Jlii"? 
ordinance  indeed  had  a  beginning  before  ;  John  the 
Baptill  and  Chrift  both  baptifed.  But  now  el'peciiiUy 
by  this  inllitution  is  it  eilabhfhed  as  an  ordinance  to  be 
upheld  in  the  Chriifian  church  to  the  end  of  the  world: 

The  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  fupper  had  been  cfta- 

blifhed  before,  jufl:  before  Chrift's  crucifixion. 

IV.  The  next  thing  to  be  obferved,  is  the  enduing 
the  ApoOlcs,  and  others,  with  extraordinary  and  mira- 
culous gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghoft ;  fuch  as  the  gift  of 
tongues,  the  gift  of  healing,  of  prophecy,  3:c.  The 
Spirit  of  God  was  poured  out  in  great  abundance  in 
this  refpe61; ;  fo  that  not  only  miniiters,  but  a  very  great 
part  of  the  Chriftians  through  the  world,  were  endued 
with  them,  both  old  and  vouncr  •  not  only  officers,  and 
inore  honorable  perfons,  but  the  meaner  fort  of  peo- 
ple, lervants  and  handmaids,  were  commonly  endued 
with  them,  agreeable  to  Joel's  prophecy,  Joel  ii.  28.  29. 
of  which  prophecy  the  Apollle  Peter  takes  notice,  that 
it  is  aceomplilhed  in  this  difpenfation,  Acts  ii.  11. 

How  wonderful  a  difpenfation  was  this  !  Under  the 
Old-Teftament,    but   few  had    fuch  honors  put    upon 
them  by  God.    Mofes  wifhed  that  all  the  Lord's  people 
were  prophets,  Num.  xi.  29.    whereas  Jofhua  thought 
it  much  that  Eldad  and  Medad  prophefied.     But  now 
we  find  the  wifli  of  Mofes  fulfilled.     And  this  conti- 
nued in  a  very  confiderable  degree  to  the  end  of  the  a- 
poftolic  age,  or  the  firft  hundred  years  after  the  birth 
of  Chrift,  which  is  therefore  called  the  age  of  miracles. 
This  was  a  great  means  of  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel 
in  that  age,  and  of  eftabUfhing  the  Chriftian  church  in 
all  parts  of  the  world  ;  and  not  only  in  that  age,  but  in 
ail  ages  to  the  end  of  the  world  :  for  Chriilianity  being 
by  this  means  ellabliflied  through  fo  great  a  part  of  the 
known  world  by  miracles,  it  was  after  that  more  eafily 
continued  by  tradition  ;  and  then,  by  means  of  thefe  ex- 
iraordinaiy  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  the  apoftles,  and 
Others,  were  enabled  to  write  the  New-Tedament,  to 
bean  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  manners  to  the  church 
to  the  end  of  the  world.     And  furthcnnore  tliefe  mi- 
racles   ftand  recorded  in  thofe  writings  as   a   ftanding 
proof  and  evidence  of  the  truth  of  the  Chriftian  reli- 
e  ion  to  all  a?es. 
^  ■  ""  V.  The 


1  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  III. 

V.  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve  is  the  revealing 
ok;  glorious  doftrines  of  the  gofpel  fully  and  plainly, 
which  had  under  the  Old-Teftament  been  obfcurely  re- 
vealed. The  doftriiie  of  Chrift's  fatisfaftion  and  righ- 
teoufnefs,  his  afcenfion  and  glory,  and  the  way  of  lal- 
vation,  under  the  Old-Teftament,  were  in  a  great  mea- 
fure  hid  under  the  veil  of  types  and  {hadow3,  and  more 
obfcure  rev^elations,  as  Mofes  put  a  veil  on  his  face  to 
hide  the  fliiningof  it :  but  now  the  veil  of  the  temple 
is  rent  from  .the  top  to  the  bottom  ;  and  Chrift  the  an- 
tetype  of  Mofes,  fhines  :  the  fhiningof  his  face  is  with- 
out a  veil ;  2.  Cor.  iii.  12.  13.  8c  18.  Now  thefe  glo- 
rious myfteries  are  plainly  revealed,  which  were  m  a 
great  meafure  kepi  fecret  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world,  Eph.  iii.  3.  4,  ^.  Rom.  xvi.  25.  '.'  According 
*'  to  tlie  revelation  of  the  myilery  which  was  kept  fe- 
"  cret  fince  the  %'orld  began,  but  now  is  made  mani- 
*'  fell ;"  and  pol.  i,  26.  "  Even  the  myftery  which 
"  hath  been  hid  from  ages,  and  generations,  but  now  is 
"  made  nianifell  to  his    faints. 

Thus  the  Sun  of  righteoufnefs,  after  it  is  rifen  from 
under  the  earth,  begins  to  fhine  forth  clearly,  and  not 
only  by  a  dim  refleftion  as  it  did  before.  Chrift,  be- 
fore his  death,  revealed  many  things  more  clearly  than 
ever  they  had  been  revealed  in  the  Old-Teftament ;  but 
the  great  myfteries  of  Chrift's  redemption,  and  reconci- 
liation by  his  death,  and  juftification  by  his  righteouf- 
nefs, were  not  fo  plainly  revealed  before  Chrift's  refur- 
reftion.  Chrift  gav-e  this  reafon  for  it,  that  he  would 
not  put  new  wine  into  old  bottles ;  and  it  was  gradually 
done  after  Chrift's  refurreftion.  In  all  likelihood  Chrift 
much  more  clearly  inftrutled  them  perfonally  after  his 
refurreftion,  and  before  his  afcenfion  ;  as  we  read  that 
he  continued  with  them  forty  days,  fpeaking  of  the 
things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom,  Afts  i.  3.  and 
that  "  he  opened  their  underftandings,  that  they  might 
*'  underftand  the  fcriptures,"  Luke  xxiv,  45.  But  the 
clear  revelation  of  thefe  things,  was  principally  after  the 
pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  on  the  day  of  Pentecoft,  a- 
greeable  to  Chrift's  promifc,,  John  xvi.  12.  13.  "I 
*'  have  yet  many  things  to  fay  unto  you,  but  ye  cannot 
**  bear  them  now.  Howbeit,  when  the  Spirit  of  truth  is; 
^*  come,  he  fhall  guide  you  into  all  truth."    This  clear 

revelation 


Part  II.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    oC^. 

revelation  of  the  myfterles  of  the  gofpcl,  as  they  are 
delivered,  we  have  chiefly  through  the  hands  of  the 
ApoRle  Paul,  by  whofe  writings  a  child  may  come  to 
know  more  of  the  dohrincs  of  the  gofp^l,  in  many  re- 
fpefls,  than  the  grcatcll;  prophets  knew  under  the  dark- 
nefs  of  die  Old-'rellamcnt. 

Thus  we  fee  how  the  light  of  the  gofpcl,  which  be- 
gan to  dawn  immediately  after  the  fall,  and  gradually 
grew  and  increafcd  through  all  the  ages  of  the  Old  Tef- 
tament,  as  we  obferved  as  we  went  along,  is  now  come 
to  the  light  of  perfeft  day,  and  the  brightnefs  of  the 
fun  Ihining  fordi  in  its  unveiled  glory. 

VI.  The  next  thing  that  I  would  obferve,  is  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  office  of  deacons  in  the  ChrilHan 
church,  which  we  have  an  account  of  in  the  6th  chap- 
ter of  the  Afts,  to  take  care  for  the  outward  fupply  of 
the  members  of  Chrift's  church,  and  the  cxcrcife  of 
that  great  Chriftian  virtue  of  charily. 

VII.  The  calling,  and  qualifying,  and  fending  the 
Apofde  Paul.  This  was  begun  in  his  converfion  as  he 
was  going  to  Damafcus,  and  was  one  of  the  greatel! 
means  ot  the  fuccefs  of  Chrifl's  redemption  that  fol- 
lowed :  for  this  fuccefs  was  more  by  the  labours, 
preaching,  and  writings  of  this  Apoftle,  than  all  the  o- 
ther  apoftles  put  together.  For,  as  he  fays,  i  Cor.  xv. 
.10.  he  "  laboured  more  abundantly  than  they  all ;"  fa 
his  fuccefs  was  more  abundant  than  that  of  them  all.  As 
he  was  the  apoftle  of  the  Gentiles,  fo  it  was  mainly  by  his 
miniHry  that  the  Gentiles  were  called,  and  the  gofpel 
fpread  through  the  world  ;  and  our  nation  and  the  o- 
ther  nations  of  Europe,  have  the  gofpel  among  them 
chiefly  through  his  means ;  and  he  was  more  employed 
by  the  Holy  Ghoft  in  revealing  the  glorious  do61rincs 
of  the  gofpel,  by  his  writings  for  the  ufe  of  the  church 
in  all  ages,  than  all  the  other  apofiles  taken  together. 

VIII.  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve,  is  tlie  infli- 
tution  of  ecclefiaftical  councils,  for  decidinfj;  contro- 
verfies,  and  ordering  the  affairs  of  the  church  of  Chrill, 
of  which  we  have   an  account  in  the  i^th  chapter  of 

Aas. 

IX.  The  laft  thing  I  fliall  mention  under  this  head, 
is  the  committing  the  New-Teftament  to  >vTiting.  Tliis 

.was  all  written  after  the  rcfurre6i:oji  of  Chrifl  ;  and  ail 

written, 


2bs 


A    HISTORY    cT 


Period  IIL 


N'.jiucn,  either  by  the  apoftles,  or  by  the  evangelifls, 
\v  ho  were  companions  of  the  apollles.  All  the  New 
Teilament  was  written  by  the  apoPdes  themfelves,  ex- 
cepting what  j^-as  written  by  Mark  and  Luke,  viz.  the 
gofpels  of  Mark  and  Luke,  and  the  book  of  the  A8s 
of  the  Apoftles.  He  that  wrote  the  gofpel  of  Mark,  is 
fuppofed  to  be  he  whofe  mother  was  Mary,  in  whole 
houfe  they  w^re  praying  for  Pe^er,'  when  he,  brought 
out  of  p-rifon  by  the  angel,  came  and  knocked  at  the 
door;  of  which  we  read,  Afcts  xii.  12.  "And  when 
*'  he  had  confidered  the  thing,  he  came  to  the  houfe 
*'  of  Mary  the  mother  of  John,  whofe  firnarr.e  was 
"  Mark,  where  many  were  gathered  together,  pray- 
**  ing."  He  was  the  companion  of  the  apoftles  Bar- 
nabas and  Saul :  Afts  xv.  J7.  "  And  Barnabas  deter- 
"  mined  to  take  with  them  John,  whofe  firname  was 
"  Mark."  He  was  Barnabas's  filler's  fon,  and  feems 
fometimes  to  have  been  a  companion  to  the  Apoftle 
Paul :  Col.  iv.  10,  "  Ariftarchus,  my  feliow-priloner, 
"  faluteth  you,  and  Marcus,  fifter's  fon  to  Barnabas ; 
*'  touching  whom  ye  received  commandment :  if  he 
*'  come  unto  you,  receive  him."  The  apoflles  feem  to 
have  made  great  account  of  him,  as  appears  by  thofe 
places,  and  alfo  by  Afts  xii.  25.  "  And  Barnabas  and 
*'  Saul  returned  from  Jerufalem,  and  took  with  them 
*'  John,  whofe  firname  was  Mark ;"  and  A6ls  xiii.  5. 
"  And  when  they  were  at  Salamis,  they  preached  ths 
*•  word  of  God  in  the  fynagogues  of  the  Jews  ;  and 
"  they  had  alfo  John  to  their  minifter ;"  and,  2  Tim. 
iv.  11.  "  Only  Luke  is  with  me:  take  Mark  and  bring 
"  him  with  thee ;  for  he  is  profitable  to  me  for  the 
*'  miniftry." 

This  Luke,  who  wrote  the  gofpel  of  Luke  and  the 
book  of  Afls,  was  a  great  companion  of  the  Apoflle 
Paul.  He  is  fpoken  of  as  being  with  him  in  the  laft 
mentioned  place,  and  fpeaks  of  himfelf  as  accompany- 
ing him  in  his  travels  in  the  hiflory  of  the  A61s  ;  and 
therefore  he  fpeaks  in  the  firft  perfon  plural,  when 
fpeaking  of  Paul's  travels,  faying.  We  went  to  fuch 
and  fuch  a  place ;  We  fet  fail ;  We  launched  from  fuch 
a  place,  and  landed  at  fuch  a  place.  He  was  greatly 
beloved  by  the  Apoftle  Paul :  he  is  that  beloved  phyfici- 
an  fpoken  of,  Col.  iv.    The  ApoRIe  ranks  Mark  and 

Luke 


Part  II.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     265 

Luke  among  his  fellow-labourers,  Philemon,  24.  '•  Mar- 
"  cus,  Ariltarchus,  Demas,  Lucas,  my  fcilow-labour- 
"  ers." 

The  reft  of  the  books  were  all  writtci>  by  the  apoftlcs 
themfclves.  The  books  of  the  NewTcIlament  are  ei- 
ther hiftorical,  or  doftrinal,  or  prophetical.  The  hi- 
ftorical  books  are  the  writings  of  the  four  evangelilks, 
giving  us  the  hiliory  of  Chi  ill,  and  his  purchafe  of  re- 
demption, and  his  relurrettion  and  afccnfion ;  and  the 
Afts  ol  the  Apoftles,  giving  an  account  of  the  great 
filings  by  which  the  Cbriftian  church  was  firfteflabhlh- 
ed  and  propagated.  The  dotirinal  books  are  the  epi- 
ftles.  Thele,  moft  of  them,  we  have  from  the  great 
Apoftle  Paul.  And  we  have  one  prophetical  book, 
which  takes  place  after  the  end  of  the  hiflory  of  the 
whole  Bible,  and  gives  an  account  of  the  great  events 
which  were  to  come  to  pais,  by  which  the  work  of  re- 
demption was  to  be  carried  on  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

All  thefe  books  are  fuppofed  to  have  been  written 
before  the  deftru6Hon  of  Jerufalem,  excepting  thofe- 
which  were  written  by  the  Apoftle  John,  who  lived  the 
longeft  of  all  the  apoftles,  and  wrote  what  he  wrote 
after  the  deftru^lion  of  Jerufalem,  as  is  fuppofed.  And 
to  this  beloved  difciple  it  was  that  Chrift  revealed  thofe 
wonderful  things  which  were  to  come  to  pafs  in  his 
church  to  the  end  of  time ;  and  he  was  the  perfon  that 
put  the  finifhing  hand  to  the  canon  of  the  fcriptures, 
and  fealed  the  whole  of  it.  So  that  now  the  canon  of 
fcripture,  that  great  and  ftanding  written  rule,  which 
was  begun  about  Mofes's  time,  is  completed  and  fettled, 
and  a  curfe  denounced  againft  him  that  adds  any  thing 
to  it,  or  diminifhes  any  thing  from  it.  And  (o  all 
things  are  eftabliftied  and  completed  which  relate  to  the 
appointed  means  of  grace.  All  the  ftated  means  of 
grace  were  finiilied  in  the  apoftolical  age,  or  before  the 
death  of  the  apoftle  John,  and  are  to  remain  unaltered 
to  the  day  of  judgment. 

Thus  far  we  have  confidered  thofe  things  by  which 
the  means  of  grace  were  given  and  eftabliftied  in  Uie 
Chriftian  church. 

§  II.  Th  e  other  thing  propofed  relating  to  the  fuccefs 
'of  Chrift's  redemption  during  the  church's  continuance 
H  h  under 


A   HISTORY  OF  Period  IIL 


tindcf  means  of  grace,  was  to  fhow  how  this  fiiccefs 
was  carried  on  j  which  is  what  I  would  now  proceed 
to  do. 

And  here  it  is  worthy  to  be  remembered,  that  the 
Chriflian  church,  during  its  continuance  under  the 
tneans  of  grace,  is  in  two  very  different  ftates. 

1.  In  a  fuffering,  afflifted,  perfeeuted  ftate,  as,  for 
the  moft  part  it  is,  from  the  refurreftion  of  Chrift  till 
the  fall  of  Antichrifl:. 

2.  In  a  ftate  of  peace  and  profperity ;  which  is  the 
ilate  that  the  church,  for  the  moft  part,  is  to  be  in  af- 
ter the  fall  of  Antichrift. 

First,  I  would  fhow  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  re-^ 
demption  is  carried  on  during  the  continuance  of  the 
church's  fuffering  ftate,  from  the  refurreftion  of  Ghrift 
to  the  fall  of  Antichrift.  This  fpace  of  time,  for  the 
moft  part,  is  a  ftate  of  the  church's  fufferings,  and  is 
fo  reprefented  in  fcripture.  Indeed  God  is  pleafed,  out 
of  love  and  pity  to  his  elecf,  to  grant  many  intermif-* 
iions  of  the  church's  fufferings  during  this  time,  where=» 
by  tlie  days  of  tribulation  are  as  it  were  ftiprtened.  But 
from  Chrift's  refurreftion  to  the  fall  of  Antichrift,  is' 
the  appointed  day  of  Zion's  troubles.  During  this  fpace 
lof  tiir.e,  for  the  moft  part,  fome  part  or  other  of  the 
church  is  under  perfecution;  and  great  part  of  the 
time,  the  whole  church,  or  at  leaft  the  generality  of 
God's  people,  have  been  perfeeuted. 

For  the  firft  three  hundred  years  after  Chrift,  th* 
church  was  for  the  moft  part  in  a  ftate  of  great  aftlic- 
tion,  the  objeft  of  reproach  and  perfecution  ;  firft  by 
the  Jews,  and  then  by  the  Heathen.  After  thi$,  fron? 
the  beginning  of  Conftantine's  time,  the  church  had 
reft  and  profperity  for  a  little  while  ;  which  is  repre- 
fented in  Rev.  vii.  at  the  beginning,  by  the  angel's  hold- 
ing the  four  winds  for  a  little  while.  But  prefently  af- 
ter, the  church  again  fuffered  perfecution  from  the  Ari- 
ans  ;  and  after  that,  Antichrift  rofe,  and  the.  church 
was  dnyen  away  into  the  wildernefs,  and  was  kept 
down  in  obfcurity,  and  contempt,  and  fuffering,  for  a 
Jong  time,  under  Antichrift,  before  the  reformation  by 
Luther  and  others.  And  ftnce  the  reformation,  the 
church'sperfecutionshave  been  beyond  all  that  ever  were 

before. 


Partll.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     26^ 

before.  And  though  fome  parts  of  God's  church  fome- 
times  have  had  relt,  yet  to  this  day,  for  the  moit  part, 
the  true  church  is  very  much  kept  under  by  its  enemies^ 
and  fome  parts  oi  it  under  grievious  p^rfecution  ;  and  fo' 
tvemay  expert  itwillcontume  till  the  fall  of  Antichrift  ; 
and  then  will  come  the  appointed  day  of  the  church's 
profperity  on  earth,  the  fet  time  in  which  God  will  fa- 
vour Zion,  the  time  when  the  faints  fhall  not  be  kept 
under  by  wicked  men,  as  it  has  been  hitherto  ;  but 
wherein  they  fhall  be  uppermoft,  and  ihall  reign  on 
earth,  as  it  is  faid,  Rev.  v.  10.  "And  the  kingdom 
*'  fhall  be  given  to  the  people  of  the  faints  of  the  moil 
*'  High,"  Dan.  yii.  27. 

This  fuffering  flate  of  the  church  is  in  fcripture  re- 
prefented  as  a  flate  of  the  church's  travail,  John  xvi- 
20.  21.  and  Rev.  xii.  1.  2.  What  the  church  is  in  tra- 
vail flriving  to  bring  forth  during  this  time,  is  that 
glory  and  profperity  of  the  church  which  (hall  b^  afier 
the  fall  of  Antichrifl,  and .  then  ihall  flie  bring  forth 
her  child.  This  is  a  longr  time  of  the  church's  trouble 
and  affli61ion,  and  is  fo  fpoken  of  in  fcripture,  though 
it  be  fpoken  of  as  being  but  for  a  little  feafon,  in  com- 
parifon  of  the  eternal  profperity  of  the  church.  Hence 
the  church,  under  the  long  continuance  of  this  afRic- 
tion,  cries  out,  as  in  Rev.  vi.  10.  "  How  long,  O  Lord, 
**  holy  and  true,  dofl  thou  not  judge  and  avenge  our 
"  blood  on  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth  ?"'  And  we 
are  told,  that  ''white  robes  w'ere  given  unto  every  one 
**  of  them ;  and  it  was  faid  unto  them,  that  they  fhould* 
*'  refl  yet  for  a  little  feafon,  until  their  fellow-fervants 
*'  alfo,  and  their  brethren,  that  fhould  be  killed  as  they 
*'  were,  fhould  be  fulfilled."  So  Dan.  xii.  6.  "  How 
*'  long  fhall  it  be  to  the  end  of  thefe  wonders  ?" 

It  is  to  be  obferved,  that  during  the  time  of  thefe 
fufferings  of  the  church,  the  main  inflrument  of  their 
fiifferings  has  been  the  Roman  government :  her  afflic- 
tions have  almoll  all  along  been  from  Rome.  That  is 
therefore  in  the  New  Teftament  called  Babylon  ;  be- 
caufe,  as  of  old  die  troubles  of  the  cit)'  Jerufalem 
were  mainly  from  that  adverfe  city  B;ibylon,  fo  the 
troubles  of  the  Chriflian  church,  the  fpiritual  Jerufa- 
lem, during  the  long  time  of  its  tribulation,  is  mainly 
lih  s  frvui. 


268  A  K  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Of  Period  III. 

from  Rome.  Before  the  time  of  Conftantine,.the  trou- 
bles of  the  Chriftian  church  were  from  Heathen  Rome : 
fince  that  time,  its  troubles  have  been  mainly  from 
Aniichrillian  Rome.  And  as  of  old,  the  captivity  of 
the  Jews  cealed  on  the  dellru£Hon  of  Babylon,  fo  the 
time  of  the  trouble  of  the  Chrillian  church  will  ceafe 
with  the  deftru6tion  of  the  church  pf  Rome,  that  fpi- 
^itual  Babvlon. 

In  {ho\ving  how  the  fuccefs  of  ChriR's  redemption  is 
(Carried  on  daring  this  iiir.Q  of  the  church's  tribulation, 
I  would,  ' 

1.  Sho\v  how  it  wa.s  carried  on  till  the  deftruftion  of 
Jerufalem,  with  which  ended  the  firft  great  difpenfa* 
lion  of  Providence',  which  ?s  called  Chris's  coming  in 
his  kinp^dom.       ' 

2.  How  it  was  carried  on  from  thence  to  the  de- 
flruction  of  the  Heathen  empire  in  the  time  of  Con- 
itantine,  which  is  the  fecond  difpenfation  called  Chrijfs 
coming.      ■  •       .    .  •• 

3.  How  it  is  carried  on  from  thence  to  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  Antichriil,  when  will  be  accompliihed  the  third 
great  event  called  Chnjl's  coming,  and  with  which 'the 
days  of  the  church's  tiibuladon  and  travail  end. 

I.  I  would  fhow  hovy  thp  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe 
of  redemption  was  carried  on  from  Chrift's  refurreftion 
to  the  deftrucHon  of  jerufalem.  In  fpeaking  of  this, 
I  would,  1.  take  notice  of  the  fuccefs  itfelf ;  and,  2. 
the  oppoiition  made  againft  it  by  the  enemies  of 
It ;  and,  3.  the  terrible  judgment^  of  God  on  thofe 
enemies.  "  ■   " 

1.  I  would  obferve  the  fuccefs  itfelf.  Soon  after 
Chnft  had  finillied  the  purchaie  of  redemption,  and 
was  c;one  into  Heaven  and  entered  into  the  holy  of 
hoHcs  with  his  own  blood,  there  began  a  glorious  fuc- 
cefs f >f  wliat  he  had  done  and  fuffered.  Having  under- 
iiUiied  the  foundation  of  Satan's  kingdom,  it  began  to 
idll  apace.  Swiftly  did  it  haften  to  ruin,  m  the  world, 
which  might  well  be  compared  to  Satan's  falling  like 
lightning,  from  Heaven.  Satan  before  had  exalted  his 
tiironc  very  liigh  in  this  world,  even  to  the  very  flars 
of  Heaven,  reigning  with  great  glory,  in  his  Heathen 
J:loman  empire;  but  never  before  had  hefiich  a  down- 

fai 


Part  II.  1. .  The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     269 

i^\  as  he  had  foon  after  Chrifl's  afcenfion.  He  had,  wc 
jnay  fuppofe;  been  very  lately  triumphing  in  a  hippolcd 
yiciory,  having  brought  about  the  death  of  Chrill, 
nvhich  he  doubllefs  gloried  ii)  as  the  greaielt  feat  that 
ever  he  did  ;  and  probably  im^igined  he  had  totally  de- 
feated God's  defign  by  him.  But  he  was  (piickly  made 
fenfible,  that  he  had  only  been  luining  his  own  king- 
dom, when  he  faw  it  tumbling  fo  fall  fo  loon  after,  as 
a  corifequence  of  the  death  of  Chrilh  For  Chrift,  by 
his  death,  having  purchaied  the  holy  fpirit,  and  ha- 
ying  afcendcd,  and  received  the  Spirit,  he  poured  it 
forth  abundantly  for  the  converfion  of  thoufarids  and 
inillions  of  fouls. 

Never  had  Chrifl's  kingdom  been  fo  fet  up  in  the 
world.  There  probably  were  more  fouls  converted  in 
the  age  of  the  apoflles  than  had  been  before  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world  till  that  time.  Thus  God  fo 
foon  begins  glorioufly  to  accomplilh  his  promife  to  his 
Son,  wherein  he  had  promifed,  that  he  flioiild  fee  his 
feed,  and  that  the  pleafure  of  the  Lord  fliould  profper 
in  his  hand,  if  he  would  make  his  foul  an  offering  for 
fm.     And, 

(1)  Here  iis  to  be  obferved  the  fuccefs  which  thegof- 
pej  had  among  the  Jews :  for  God  firfl  began  with 
thern.  He  being  about  to  rcjeft  the  main  body  of  that 
people,  firfl  calls  in  his  eleft  from  among  them,  before 
lie  foifook  them,  to  turn  to  the  Gentiles.  It  was  fo 
in  former  great  and  dreadful  judgments  of  God  on 
jthat  nation  :  the  bulk  of  them  were  deflroyed,  and  only 
a  remnant  faved,  or  reformiCd.  So  it  was  in  the  rejec- 
tion of  the  ten  tribes,  long  before  this  reje6lion  :  the 
bulk  of  the  ten  tribes  were  rejected,  when  they  left  the 
true  worfnip  of  God  in  Jeroboam's  time,  and  after- 
wards more  fully  in  Ahab's  time.  But  yet  there  was  a 
remnant  of  theni  that  God  referved.  A  number  left 
their  polfeClons  in  thefe  tribes,  and  went  and  fettled 
in  the  tribes  of  Judah  and  Benjamin.  And  afterwards 
t;iere  were  feven  thoufand  in  Ahab's  time,  who  had 
not  bowed  the  knee  to  Baal.  And  fo,  in  the  captivity 
xnio  Babylon,  only  a  reninant  of  them  e\  er  returned  to 
il;.eir  own  land.  And  fo  now  again,  by  far  the  grcate^^ 
part  of  the  people  were  rejected  entirely,  but  fome  few 
)vere  faved.     And  therefore  the  Holv  Ghofl  compare^ 


*7o  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  liL 

this  reservation  of  a  nun^iber  that  were  converted  by  the* 
preaching  of  the  apoftles,  to  thofe  former  remnants  : 
Rom.  ix.  27.  •'  Efaias  alfo  crieth  concerning  Ifrael, 
"  Though  tli^  number  of  the  children  be  as  the  fand 
**  of  the  fea,  a  remnant  ihall  be  faved."   See  If.  x.  22, 

The  glorious  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  among  the  Jews 
after  Chrift's  afceijfion,  began  by  the  pouring  out  of  the 
Spirit  upon  the  day  of  Pentecoft,  of  which  we  read  in 
Ads  ii.  So  wonderful  was  this  pouring  out  of  the  Spi- 
rit, and  fo  remarkable  and  fwift  the  effeft  of  it,  that 
we  read  of  three  thoufand  who  v.'ere  converted  to  the 
Chriftian  faith  in  one  daV;  Afts  ii.  41.  And  probably 
the  greater  part  of  thefe  were  favingly  converted.  Anct 
after  this,  we  read  of  God's  adding  to  the  church,  daily 
fiich  as  Ihould  be  faved,  verf.  47.  And  foon  after,  wc 
read,  that  the  number  of  them  were  about  five  thou- 
fand. Thus  were  not  only  a  multitude  converted,  but 
the  church  was  then  eminent  in  piety,  as  appears  by 
Acls  ii.  46.  47.  iv.  32. 

Thus  the  Chriftian  church  was  firft  of  all  of  the  na- 
tion of  Ifraey;  and-  therefore,  when  the  Gentiles  were 
called,  they  were  but  as  it  were  added  to  Ifrael,  to  the 
feed  of  Abraham.  They  were  added  to  the  Chriftian 
church  of  Ifrael,  as  the  profelytes  of  old  were  to  the 
Mofaic  church  of  Ifrael ;  and  fo  were  as  it  were  only 
grafted  on  the  ftock  of  Abraham,  and  were  not  a  dif- 
tinft  tree;  for  they  are  all  ftill  the  feed  of  Abraham  and 
Ifrael ;  as  Ruth  the  Moabitefs,  and  Uriah  the  Hittite, 
and  other  profelytes  of  old;  were  the  fame  people,  and 
ranked  as  the  feed  of  Ifrael. 

So  the  Chriftian  church  at  firft  began  at  Jerufaleni, 
and  from  thence  was  propagated  to  all  nations  :  fo  that 
this  church  of  jerufalem  was  the  church  that  was  as  it 
were  the  mother  of  all  other  churches  in  the  world  ; 
agreeable  to  the  prophecy,  If.  ii.  3.  4.  "  Out  of  Zion 
*'  Ihall  go  forth  the  law,  aijd  the  word  of  the  Lord 
*'  from  JerufalejTi :  and  he  Ihall  judge  among  the  na- 
**  tions,  and  rebuke  many  people."  So  that  the  whole 
church  of  God  is  ftill  God's  Jerufalem  :  they  are  his 
fpi ritual  Jerufalem,  and  are  as  it  were  only  added  to 
the  church,  which  was  begun  in  the  literal  Jerufalem. 

After  this,  we  xead  of  many  thoufands  of  Jews 
that  believed  in  Jerufalem,  Acts  xxi.  20.     And  io  we 

read 


Bart  II.  1.  The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.   271 

read  of  multitudes  of  Jews  who  were  converted  in  o- 
ther  cities  of  Judea  ;  and  not  only  fo,  but  even  in  other 
parts  of  the  world.  For  wherever  the  apoftles  went, 
if  there  were  any  Jews  there,  their  manner  was,  firik 
to  go  into  the  fynagogucs  of  the  Jews,  and  preach  the 
gofpel  to  them,  and  many  in  one  place  arnl  another  be- 
lieved ;  as  in  Damafcus  and  Aniioch,  and  many  other 
places  that  we  read  of  in  the  Atts  of  the  Apoltles. 

In  this  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit,  which  began  at  the 
P^tttecoil  following  Chrift's  afccnfion,  began  that  firft 
great  difpenfation  which  is  called  ChriJVs  coming  in  his 
kingdom*  Chrift's  coming  thus  in  a  fpiiitual  manner 
for  the  glorious  fetting  up  of  his  kingdom  in  the  world, 
is  reprefented  by  Chrill  himfelf  as  his  coming  down 
from  Heaven,  whither  he  had  afcended,  John  xiv.  iB. 
There  Chrili  having  been  I'peaking  of  his  afcenfion, 
fays,  "  I  will  iK)t  leave  you  comfortlefs ;  I  will  come 
*'  unto  you,"  fpeaking  of  his  coming  by  the  coming  of 
the  Comforter,  the  Spirit  of  truth.  And,  verf.  28. 
•^  Ye  have  heard  how  I  faid  unto  you,  I  go  awa)-,  and 
**  come  again  unto  you."  And  thus  t]ie  apoftles  began 
to  fee  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  come  with  power,  as  he 
promifed  they  ftiould,  Mark  ix.  1. 

(2)  What  is  next  to  be  obferved  is  the  fuccefs  of 
the  gofpel  among  the  Samaritans.  After  the  fuccefs  of 
the  goipel  had  been  fo  glorioufly  begun  among  the  pro- 
per Jews,  the  Spirit  of  God  was  next  wonderfully 
poured  out  on  the  Samaritans,  who  were  not  Jews  by 
nation,  but  the  pofterity  of  thofe  wiiom  the  king  o£ 
AlTyria  removed  from  different  parts  of  his  dominicms, 
and  fettled  in  the  land  that  was  inhabited  by  the  ten 
tribes,  whom  he  carried  captive.  But  yet  they  had  re- 
ceived the  five  books  of  Mofes,  and  praftifed  moft  of 
the  rites  of  the  law  of  Mofes,  and  fo  were  a  fort  of 
mongrel  Jews.  We  do  not  find  them  reckoned  as 
Gentiles  in  the  New  Teftament :  for  the  calling  of  the 
Gentiles  is  fpoken  of  as  a  new  thing  after  this,  bcgin- 
ping  with  the  converfion  of  Cornelius.  But  yet  it  was 
an  inftance  of  making  that  a  people  that  were  no  j^o- 
ple  i  for  they  had  corrupted  the  religion  which  Mofes 
commanded,  and  did  not  go  up  to  Jerufalem  to  wor- 
fhip,  but  had  another  temple  of  their  own  in  Mount 
Cerizzim ;  which  is  the  mauntain  of  which  the  womaa 


272  A   HISTORY  OF  Period  III. 

of  Sai;  !  fpeaks,  when  fhe  fays  "Our  fathers  wor- 
**  fiiippcd  111  this  mountain."  Chrift  there  does  not 
approve  of  their  feparation  from  the  Jews  ;  but  tells  the 
woman  of  Samaria,  that  they  worlhipped  they  knew 
not  what,  and  that  falvation  is  of  the  Jews.  But  now 
falvation  is  brought  from  the  Jews  to  them  by  the 
preaching  of  Philip  (excepting  that  before  Chrift  had 
ibme  fuccefs  among  them)  with  whofe  preaching  there 
was  a  glorious  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  the 
city  of  Samaria  ;  where  we  are  told,  that  *•'  the  people 
"  believed  Philip  preaching  the  things  concerning  the 
**  kingdom  of  Chrift,  and  were  baptized,  both  men 
"  and  women ;  and  that  there  was  gieat  joy  in  that 
V  city,"     Afts  viii.  8. — 12. 

Thus  Chrift  had  a  glorious  harv^eft  in  Samaria ;  which 
is  what  Chrift  feems  to  have  had  refpeft  to,  in  what  he 
faid  to  his  difciples  at  Jacob's  well  three  or  four  years 
before,  on  occafion  of  the  people  of  Samaria's  appear- 
ing at  a  diftance  in  the  fields  coming  to  the  place  where 
Chrift  was,  at  the  inftigation  of  the  woman  of  Samaria. 
On  that  occafion,  he  bids  his  difciples  lift  up  their  eyes 
to  the  field,  for  that  they  were  white  to  the  harveft,  John 
iv.  35.  36.  The  difpofition  which  the  people  of  Sama- 
ria ihowed  towards  Chrift  and  his  gofpel,  fhowed  that 
they  were  ripe  for  the  harveft.  But  now  the  hai-veft  is 
come  by  Philip's  preaching.  There  ufed  to  be  a  moft 
bitter  enmity  between  the  Jews  and  Samaritans ;  but 
now,  by  their  converfion,  the  Chriftian  Jews  and  Sa- 
maritans are  all  happily  united :  for  in  Chrift  Jefus  is 
neither  Jew  nor  Samaritan,  but  Chrift  is  all  in  all.  This 
was  a  glorious  inftance  of  the  wolf's  dwelling  with  the 
lamb,  and  the  leopard's  lying  down  with  the  kid. 

(3)  The  next  thing  to  be  obferved  is  the  fuccefs  there 
was  of  the  gofpel  in  caUing  the  Gentiles.  This^was  a 
great  and  glorious  difpenfation  of  divine  providence, 
much  fpoken  of  in  the  prophecies  of  the  Old  Tefta- 
ment,  and  fpoken  of  by  the  apoftles  time  after  time,  as 
a  moft  glorious  event  of  Chrift's  redemption.  This  wa^ 
begun  in  the  converfion  of  Cornelius  and  his  family, 
greatly  to  the  admiration  of  Peter,  who  was  ufed  as  the 
inftrument  of  it,  and  of  thofe  who  were  with  him,  and 
of  thofe  who  were  informed  of  it;  as  you  may  fee,  Acls 
X.  &  xi.     And  the  next  inftance  of  it  that  we  have  any 

account 


Part II.  I.    The  Work  of  REDEMP'HON.   273 

account  of,  was  in  the  convcrfion  of  great  numbers  of 
Gentiles  in  Cyprus,  and  Cyrene,  and  Antiocli,  bv  the 
difciples  tliat  were  fcattered  abroad  by  the  perfecutioii 
which  arofe  about  Stephen,  as  we  have  an  account  in 
ASis  xi.  19.  20.  21.  And  prefently  upon  this  the  chf- 
ciples  began  to  be  called  Chriilians  firlt  at  Antioch, 
verf.  26. 

And  after  this,  vafl  multitudes  of  Gentiles  were  con- 
verted in  many  different  parts  of  the  world,  chiefly  by 
the  miniflry  of  the  Apollle  Paul,  a  glorious  pouring 
out  of  the  Spirit  accompanying  his  preaching  in  one 
place  and  another.  Multitudes  flocked  into  the  church 
of  Chrilf  in  a  great  number  of  cities  where  the  Apollle 
came.  So  the  number  of  members  of  the  Chriiliau 
church  that  were  Gentiles,  foon  far  exceeded  the  num- 
ber of  its  Jewilh  members  ;  )'ea  fo,  that  in  lefs  than 
ten  years  time  after  Paul  was  fent  forth  from  AntiocU 
to  preach  to  the  Gentiles,  it.  was  faid  of  him  and  his 
companions,  that  they  had  turned  the  world  upfidc 
down  :  Afts  xvii.  6.  "Thefethat  have  turned  the  world 
*'  upfide  down  are  come  hither  alfo."  But  the  moft 
remarkable  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  in  a  particular 
city  that  we  have  any  account  of  in  the  New  Tefla- 
ment,  feems  to  be  that  in  the  city  of  Ephefus,  whicli 
was  a  very  great  city.  Of  this  we  have  an  account  in 
A6ls  xix.  There  was  alfo  a  ver\^  extraordinary  ingather- 
ing of  fouls  at  Corinth,  one  of  the  greateft  cities  in  all 
Greece.  And  after  this  many  were  converted  in  Rome, 
the  chief  city  of  all  the  world  ;  and  the  gofpel  was 
propagated  into  all  parts  of  the  Roman  empire.  Thus 
the  gofpel-fun,  which  had  lately  rifen  on  the  Jews,  now 
rofe  upon,  and  began  to  enlighten  the  Heathen  world, 
after  they  had  continued  in  grofs  Heathenifh  darknefs 
for  fo  many  ages. 

This  was  a  great  thing,  and  a  new  thing,  fuch  as  ne- 
ver had  been  before.  All  nations  but  the  Jews,  and  a 
few  who  had  at  one  time  and  another  joined  with  tliem, 
had  been  rejefted  from  about  Moies's  time.  The  Gen- 
tile world  had  been  covered  over  with  the  thick  dark- 
nefs of  idolatry  ;  but  now,  at  the  joyful  glorious  founJ 
of  the  gofpel,  they  began  in  all  parts  to  forfake  their 
old  idols,  and  to  abhor  them,  and  to  call  them  to  the 
moles  and  to  the  bats,  and  to  learn  to  >vor(hip  the  true 
1  i  Qod, 


274  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Peiiod  III. 

God,  and  to  truft  in  his  Son  Jefus  Cbrill ;  and  God  own- 
ed them  for  his  people  ;  thofe  who  had  fo  long  been  afar 
off,  were  made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  ChriiK  Men  were 
changed  from  being  Heathenifh  and  brutifh,  to  be  tlie 
children  of  God ;  were  called  out  of  Satan's  kingdom  of 
darknefs,  and  brought  into  God's  marvellous  light ; 
and  in  almoft  all  countries  throughout  the  known  world 
were  alTemblies  of  the  people  of  God;  joyful  praifes 
were  fung  to  the  true  God,  and  Jefus  Chrift  the  glo- 
lious  Redeemer.  Now  that  great  building  which  God 
began  foon  after  the"  fall  of  man,  rifes  glorioufly,  not 
m  the  fame  manner  that  it  had  done  in  former  ages, 
but  in  quite  a  new  manner  ;  now  Daniel's  prophecies 
eoncerning  the  laft  kingdom,  which  fhould  fucceed  the 
four  Heathenifh  monarchies,  begins  to  be  fulfilled  ; 
flow  the  ftone  cut  out  of  the  mountains  v/ithout  hands, 
began  to  fmite  the  image  on  its  feet,  and  to  break  it  in 
prieces,  and  to  grow  great,  and  to  make  great  advances 
towards  filling  the  earth ;  and  now  God  gathers  toge- 
ther the  eleft  from  the'  four  winds  of  Heaven,  by  the 
preaching  of  the  apoilles  and  other  minifters,  the  an- 
gels of  the  Chriftian  church  fent  forth  wdth  the  great 
found  of  the  gofpel-trumpet,  before  the  deftruftion  of 
Jerufalem,  agreeable  to  what  Chrift  foretold,  Matth.- 
Xxiv.  31. 

This  was  thefuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  during  tliis 
iirft  period  ©f  the  Chriftian  church,  which  terminated 
ill  the  deftru6}ion  of  Jerufalem. 

2.  I  would  proceed  now,  in  the  fecond  place^  to  take 
notice  of  the  oppofition  which  was  made  to  thisfuccefs 
B^  Chrift's  purchafe  by  the  enemies  of  it. Sa- 
tan, who  lately  was  fo  ready  to  triumph  and  exult,  as 
though  he  had  gained  the  viftory  in  putting  Chrift  to 
death,  now  finding  himfelf  fallen  into  the  pit  which  he 
had  digged,  and  finding  his  kingdom  falling  fo  faft,  and 
feeing  Chrift's  kingdom  make  fuch  amazing  progrefs; 
fuch  as  never  had  been  before,  ^ve  may  conclude  he  was 
filled  with  the  greateft  confufion  and  aftonilhment,  and 
hell  fecmed  to  be  efiPeftually  alarmed  by  it  to  make  the 
moft  violent  oppofition  againft  it.  And,  firft,  the  de- 
^il  ftirred  up  the  Jews,  who  had  before  crucified  Chrift, 
to  perfccute  the  church :  for  it  is  obfcrvable,  that  the 
perieeution  which  the  church  fuffisred  during  this  peri- 

.    .  od. 


Part II.  1,    The  Work  ot  REDEMPTION.     27,5 

od,  was  tnoftJy  from  the  Jews-  Thus  we  rea'i  in  ths 
Ads,  when,  at  Jerufalem,  the  Holy  Gh<ji\  was  poured 
out  at  Peutecoit,  how  the  Jews  mocked,  and  (did, 
"  Thefe  men  are  full  of  new  wine;"  aucl  how  t'a<? 
fcribes  and  Pharifees,  and  the  captain  of  the  tcnipie, 
were  alarmed,  and  bcltirrcd  themfelves  to  oppofe  aiid 
perfecute  tlie  apoftles,  and  firft  apprehended  and  threat* 
ened  them,  and  afterwards  imprifoned  and  heat  them  • 
and  breathing  out  threatenings  and  ilaughter  againft  the 
difciples  of  the  Lord,  they  itoned  Stephen  in  a  timiuU 
tuous  rage ;  and  were  not  content  to  perfecute  thofe 
that  they  could  find  in  Judea,  but  fent  abroad  to  Da- 
mafcus  and  other  places,  to  perfecute  all  that  they 
could  find  every  where.  Herod,  who  was  chief  among 
them,  ftretched  forth  his  hands  to  vex  the  church,  and 
killed  James  with  the  fword,  and  proceeded  to  take 
Peter  alfo,  and  caft  him  into  prifon. 

So  in  other  countries,  we  find,  that  alinoft  where-ev^er 
the  apollles  came,  the  Jews  oppofed  thegofpel  in  a  moit 
mahgnant  manner,  contraditHng  and  blafpheming.— r 
How  many  things  did  the  bJelfed  Apafile  Paul  fuffer  at 
their  hands  at  one  place  and  airother !  How  violent  and 
blood-thirfty  did  they  fhew  themfelves  towards  him, 
when  he  came  to  bring  alms  to  his  nation  !  In  this  per- 
fecution  and  cruelty  was  fulfilled  that  of  Chrift,  Matth. 
xxiii.  3^4.  "  Behold,  I  fend  you  prophets,  and  wife 
*'  men,  and  fcribes  ;  and  fbme  of  them  ye  fliali  kill  and 
*'  crucify,  and  fome  of  them  fhall  ye  fcourge  in  your 
"  fynagogues,  and  perfecute  them  from  city  to  city.'' 

3.  I  proceed  to  take  notice  of  thofe  judgments 
which  were  executed  on  thofe  enemies  of  Chrift,  the 
perfecuting  Jews. 

(1)  The  bulk  of  the  people  were  given,  up  to  judicial 
blindnefs  of  mind  and  hardnefs,  of  heart.  Chrift  de^ 
nounced  fuch  a  woe  upgn  them  in  the  days  of  his  flelh; 
as  Matth.  xiii.  14.  15. This  curfe  was  alfo  denoun- 
ced on  them  by  the  Apoftle  Paul,  Ath  xxviij.  25.  26. 
27.  and  under  this  curfe,  under  this  judicial  blind- 
nefs and  hardnefs,  they  remain  to  this  very  day,  having 
been  fubjett  to  it  for  about  1700  years,  being  the  moll 
awful  inftance  of  fuch  a  judgment,  and  mormraents  o£- 
God's  terrible  vengeance,  of  any  people  that  ever  were. 
That  they  fhould  continue  from  generation  to  genera- 
l  i  2k.  tiQjt 


276  A  HISTORY    OF  Periodlll. 

tion  fo  obllinately  to  rcjeft  Chrift,  fo  that  it  is  a  very 
rare  thing  that  any  one  of  them  is  converted  to  the 
Chriftian  faith,  though  their  own  fcriptures  of  the  Old 
Teftament,  which  they  acknowledge,  are  fo  full  of  plain 
teltimonies  againft  them,  is  a  remarkable  evidence  of 
their  being  dreadfully  left  of  God. 

(2)  They  were  rejefted  and  caft  off  from  being  any  lon- 
ger God's  vifible  people.  They  were  broken  off  from 
the  flock  of  Abraham,  and  fince  that  have  no  more 
been  reputed  his  feed,  than  the  Iflimaelites  or  Edomites, 
who  are  as  much  his  natural  feed  as  they.  The  greater 
})art  of  the  two  tribes  were  now  caft  oft,  as  the  ten  tribes 
had  been  before,  and  another  people  were  taken  in 
their  room,  agreeable  to  the  prediftions  of  their  own 
prophets  ;  as  of  Mofes,  Deut.  xxxii.  21.  *'  They  have 
^'  moved  me  to  jealoufy  with  that  which  is  not  God; 
*'  they  have  provoked  me  to  anger  with  their  vanities; 
*'  and  I  will  move  them  to  jealoufy  with  thofe  which 
*'  are  not  a  people,  I  will  provoke  them  to  anger  with 
*'  a  foolifli  nation;"  and  of  Ifaiah,  Ixv.  1.  "  I  am  fought 
*'  of  them  that  afked  not  for  me ;  I  am  found  of  them 

*'  that  lought  me  not." They  were  vifibly  rejefted 

and  caft  off,  by  God's  direfting  his  apoftles  to  turn 
away  from  them  and  let  tliem  alone ;  as  Afts  xiii.  46. 
.  "  Then  Paul  and  Barnabas  waxed  bold,  and  faid, 
It  was  necelfary  that  the  word  of  God  fhould  firft 
*'  have  been  fpoken  to  )  ou  :  but  feeing  ye  put  it  from 
"  vou,  and  judge  yourfelves  imworthy  of  everlafting 
*'  life,  lo,  we  turn  to  the  Gentiles  :  for  fo  hath  the 
*'  Lord  commanded  us."  And  fo  A6ls  xviii.  6.  and 
xxviii.  28.      '  * 

Thus  far  we  have  had  (he  fcripture-hiftory  to  guide 
vis:  henceforward  we  Ihall  have  the  guidance  only  of 
two  things,  viz.  of  fcripture-prophecy,  and  God's  provi- 
dence, as  related^in  human  hiftories. — But  I  proceed. 

(3)  The  third  and  laft  judgment  of  God  on  thofe 
enemies  of  the  fuccefs  of  tlje  gofpel  which  I  (hall  men- 
lion,  is  the  terrible  deftru6lion  of  their  city  and  coun- 
try by  the  P^omans.  They  had  great  warnings  and  ma- 
il v  means  ufcd  with  them  before  this  deftruftion.  Firft, 
John  the  Baptift  warned  them,  and  told  them,  that  the 
axe  was  h'^d  at  the  root  of  the  tree ;  and  that  every  tree 
which  fhouin   not  bring   forth  good   fruit,   fhould  be 

hewn 


47 


Part II.  1.     The  Wor k  of  REDEMPTION. 


■71 


liewn  down,  and  cafi  into  the  fire.     Then  Chi  10  v\-arn. 
ed  them  very  particuUrly,  and  told  them  of  their  ap- 
pi-oaching  deitruttion,   and  at  the  thoughts  of  it  wept 
over  them.     And  then   the  apoflles  after  Chrift's  af- 
cenhon  abundantly  warned  them.     But  the\'  proved  ob- 
llinate,   and  went  on  in  their  oppofition  to  Chrill  and 
his  chinch,  and  in  their  bitter  perfecuting  practices.— ^' 
Their  fo  malignantly  perfecuting  the  ApoAle  Paul,  6jP 
which  we  have  an  account  towards  the  end  of  the  AHs 
of  the  Apoftles,  is  fuppofed  to  have  been  not  more  thau 
feven  or  eight  years  before  their  deftruftion. 
•    And  after  this   God  was  pleafcd  to  give  them  one 
more  very  remarkable  warning  by  the  Apoftle  Paul,  in 
his  epiftle  to  the  Hebrews,  which  is  an  cpiftle  written 
to  that  nation  of  the  Jews,  as  is  fuppofed,   about  four 
years  before  their  dcftruftion  ;  wherein  the  plaincfl  and 
cleareft  arguments  are  fet  before  them  from  their  own 
law,  and  from  their  prophets,  for  whom  they  profeffcd 
fuch  a  regard,   to   prove  that  Chrift  Jefus  mull  be  the 
Son  of  God,  and  that  all  their  law  pointed  to  him  and 
typified  him,  and  that  their  Jewifli  difpenfation  mull 
needs  have  now  ceafed.      For  though  the  epiflle  was 
more  immediately  dire6led  to  the  Chriftian  Hebrews, 
yet  the  matter  of  the  epiftle  plainly  (hows  that  the  apo- 
ftle intended  it  for  the  ufe  and  corivi6iion  of  the  unbe- 
lieving Jews.     And  in  this  epiflle  he  mentions  particu- 
larly the  approaching  deflruclion,  as  chap.  x.  25.  "  So 
•*  much  the  more,  as  ye  lee  the  day  approaching;"  and 
in  verf.  27.  he  fpeaks  of  the  approaching   judgment 
and  fiery  indignation  which  ihould  devour  the  adver- 
faries. 

But  the  generality  of  them  refufing  to  receive  con- 
viftion,  God  foon  dellroved  them  with  fuch  terrible 
circumftances,  as  the  Geflru6iion  of  no  country  or  city 
fince  the  foundation  of  the  world  can  parallel ;  agree- 
able to  what  Chrifl  foretold,  Matth.  xxiv.  21.  **  For 
*'  then  fhall  be  tribulation,  fuch  as  was  not  from  the 
. "  beginning  of  the  world  to  this  time,  no,  nor  ever 
*'  (hall  be,"  The  firil  dcilru£lion  of  Jerufalem  by  the 
Babylonians  v»'as  very  terrible,  as  it  is  in  a  mofl  affect- 
ing manner  cefcribed  by  the  Prophet  Jeremiah,  in  his 
Lamentations;  but  this  was  nothing  to  the  dreadful 
niifery  and  v.-rath  which  they  fuffered  in  this  deflruc- 
lion ; 


2/8  A    HISTORY    OF  Period  III, 

tion ;  God,  according  as  Chrifl  foretold,  bringing  oi^ 
them  all  the  righteous  blood  that  had  been  Ihed  from 
the  foundation  of  the  world.  Thus  the  enemies  of 
Chrift  are  made  his  footflool  after  his  afcenfion,  agree- 
able to  God's  promife  in  Pfal,  ex.  at  the  beginning; 
and  Chrift  rules  them  with  a  rod  of  iron.  They  had 
teen  kicking  againft  Chrift,  but  they  did  but  kick  againft 
the  pricks.  The  briars  and  thorns  fet  themfelves  ar 
gainft  him  in  battle  :  but  he  w€nt  through  them ;  he 
bound  them  together. 

This  deftru6tion  of  Jerufalern  was  in  all  refpeQs  a-s 
greeable  to  what  Chrift  had  foretold  of  it^  Matth.  xxiv. 
by  the  account  which  Jofephus  gives  of  it,  who  was 
then  prefent,  and  was  one  of  the  Jews  who  had  a 
iliare  in  the  calamity,  and  wrote  the  hiftory  of  their 
deftrucHon.  Many  circumftances  of  this  deftruftion 
lefembled  the  deftru6l:iQii  of  the  wicked  at  the  day  of 
judgment,  by  his  account,  being  accompanied  with 
many  fearful  fights  in  the  Heavens,  and  with  a  fepara- 
tion  of  the  righteous  from  the  wicked.  Their  city  and 
temple  vv^ere  burnt,  and  rafed  to  the  ground,  and  the 
ground  on  which  the  city  ftood,  was  plowed,  and  foj 
one  ftone  was  not  left  upon  another,  Matth.  xxiv.  a. 

The  people  had  ceafed  for  the  moft  part  to  be  an  in- 
dependent govermnent  after  the  Babylonifh  captivity  : 
but  the  fceptre  entirely  departed  from  Judah  on  the 
death  of  Archelaus ;  and  then  Judea  was  made  a  Ro- 
man province  ;  after  this  they  were  caft  off  from  being 
the  people  of  God ;  but  now  their  very  city  and  land 
are  utterly  deftroyed,  and  they  carried  away  from  it ; 
and  fo  have  continued  in  their  difperfions  through  tl>e 
world  for  now  above  1600  years. 

Thus  there  was  a  final  end  to  the  Old  Teftament 
world :  All  was  finiihed  with  a  kind  of  day  of  judg- 
ment, in  which  the  people  of  God  were  faved,  and  his 

enemies  terribly  deftroyed. Thus  does  he  who  was 

fo  lately  mocked,  defpifed,- and  fpit  upon  by  thefe  Jews, 
and  ^vhofe  followers  they  fo  malignantly  perfecuted, 
appear  glorioufly  exalted  over  his  enemies. 

H  A  V I N  G  thus  fhown  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  pur- 
chafe  was  carried  on  till  tlie  deftru£tion  of  Jerufalern^  I 
tome  now, 

II.  To 


lis. 


Part  II.  1.    The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION,    p/j 

II.  To  fhow  how  it  was  carried  on  from  that  time 
till  the  delkuftion  of  the  Heathen  empire  in  the  titr;^ 
of  Conftantine  the  Great,  which  is  ihe  fecond  gre.it 
event  which  is  in  fcripture,  compared  to  Chrift's  ca-- 
luing  to  judgment. 

jerufalem  was  deilroycd  about  the  year  of  our  Lord 
68,  and  fo  before  that  generation  palfcd  a^vay  whicar 
was  contemporary  with  Chrill ;  and  it  was  about  thirty^, 
five  years  after  Chrift's  death.  I'he  deftruftion  of  the? 
Heathen  empire  imder  Conftantine,  was  about  260 
years  after  this.  In  fhowing  how  the  fuccefs  of  the  gof-* 
pel  was  carried  on  through  this  time,  I  would,  j ,  I'aku 
notice  of  the  oppofition  made  againft  it  by  the  Roman 
empire.  2.  How  the  work  of  the  gofpcl  went  on  jiot- 
witliftanding  all  that  oppofition.  3.  The  peculiar  cir- 
eumftances  of  tribulation  and  diftrefs  that  the  churcli 
was  in  juft  before  their  deliverance  by  Conftantine. 
4.  The  great  revolution  in  Conftantinc's  time. 

1.  I  would  briefly  fhow  what  oppofition  was  made 
againft  the  gofpel,  and  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  by  the 
Roman  empire.  The  oppofition  that  was  made  to  the 
gofpel  by  the  Heathen  Roman  empire,  was  mainly  after 
the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem,  though  their  oppofition 
began  before ;  but  the  oppofition  that  was  before  the 
dellruftion  of  Jerufalem,  was  mainly  by  the  Jews.  But 
when  Jerufalem  was  deftroyed,  the  Jevv^s  were  put  out 
of  a  capacity  of  much  troubling  the  church.  Now, 
therefore,  the  Devil  turns  his  hand  elfewhere,  and  uk^ 
other  inftriiments.  The  oppofition  which  was  made  in 
the  Roman  empire  againft  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  was 
chiefly  of  two  kinds. 

(1)  They  employed  all  their  learning,  and  philofo- 
phy,  and  wit,  in  oppofing  it.  Chrift  came  into  tlie 
world  in  an  age  wherein  learning  and  philofophy  weie 
at  their  height  in  the  Roman  empire.  This  was  em- 
ployed to  the  utmoft  againft  the  kingdom  of  Chrift, 
The  gofpel,  which  held  forth  a  crucified  Saviour,  was 
not  at  all  agreeable  to  the  notions  of  die  philofophers* 
The  Chriftian  fcheme  of  trufting  in  fuch  a  crucified  Re- 
deemer, appeared  foohfh  and  ridiculous  to  thenr. 
Greece  was  a  country  the  moft  famous  for  learning  of 
any  in^he  Roman  empire;  but  the  apoille  obierve% 
tiiat  the  do^irine  o^  Chrift  crucified,  appeared  foolilh- 

nefs 


28o  A   HISTORY   o?  Period  III. 

iiefs  to  the  Greeks,  i  Cor.  i.  23.  and  therefore  the 
wife  men  and  philofophers  oppofed  the  gofpel  with  all 
the  wit  they  had.  We  have  a  fpecimen  of  their  man- 
ner 01  oppofing,  in  the  Itory  we  have  of  their  treat- 
ment of  the  Apoftle  Paul  at  Athens,  which  was  a  city 
that  had  been  for  many  ages  the  chief  feat  of  philofo- 
phers of  any  in  the  whole  world.  We  read  in  A61s 
xvii.  18.  that  the  philofophers  of  the  Epicureans  and 
Stoicks  encountered  him,  faying,  "  What  will  this  bab- 
*'  ler  fay  ?  He  feemeth  to  be  a  fetter  forth  of  ilrange 
*'  gods."  So  they  were  wont  to  deride  and  ridicule 
Chrillianity.  And  after  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem, 
feveral  of  thefe  philofophers  publifhed  books  againft  it ; 
the  chief  of  whom  were  Celfus  and  Porphyry.  Thefe 
wrote  books  againft  the  Chriftian  religion  with  a  great 
deal  of  virulence  and  contempt,  much  after  the  man- 
ner that  the  Deifls  of  the  prefent  age  oppofe  and  ridi- 
cule Chrillianity.  Something  of  their  writings  yet  re- 
mains. As  great  enemies  and  defpifers  as  they  were 
of  the  Chriftian  religion,  yet  they  never  denied  the 
fa61s  recorded  of  Chrift  and  his  apoftles  in  the  New 
Teftament, particularly  the  miracles  which  they  wrought 
but  allowed  them.  They  lived  too  near  the  times 
wherein  thefe  miracles  were  wrought  to  deny  them; 
for  they  were  fo  publicly  done,  and  fo  lately,  that  nei- 
ther Jews  nor  Heathens  in  thofe  days,  appeared  to 
deny  them ;  but  they  afcribed  them  to  the  power  of 
magic. 

(2)  The  authority  of  the  Roman  empire  employed 
all  their  ftrength,  time  after  time,  to  perfecute,  and  if 
pofTible,  to  root  out  Chriftianity.  This  they  did  in 
ten  general  fucceffive  perfecutions.  We  have  hereto- 
fore obferved,  that  Chrift  came  into  the  world  when 
the  ftrength  of  Heathen  dominion  and  authority  was 
the  greateft  that  ever  it  was  under  the  Roman  monar- 
chy, the  greateft  and  ftrongeft  human  monarchy  that 
ever  was  on  earth.  All  the  ftrength  of  this  monar- 
chy was  employed  for  a  long  time  to  oppofe  and  per- 
fecute the  Chriftian  church,  and  if  poftible  to  de- 
ftroy  it,  in  ten  fucceffive  attempts,  which  are  called 
the  ten  Heathen  perjecutions,  which  were  before  Con- 
ftantine. 

The  firft  of  thefe,  which  was  the  perfccution  under 

Nero, 


Partll.  1.    The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.     281 

Nero,  was  a  little  before  the  deftrutlioii  of  Jcrufalein, 
in  which  the  Apoltle  Peter  was  crucified,  and  the  Apo- 
ille  Paul  beheaded,  Toon  after  he  wrote  liis  iecund  epi- 
file  to  llmothy.  When  he  wrote  that  epiflle,  he  was 
a  prifoner  at  Rome  under  Nero,  and  was  loon  after  ho 
wrote  it  beheaded,  agreeable  to  what  he  fays,  chap.  iv. 
6.  7.  "  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  tune  of, 
*'  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I  have  fought  a  good  fight, 
*'  I  have  finifhed  my  courfe,  I  have  kept  the  faith." — 
And  there  were  many  thoufands  of  other  Chrillians 
flain  in  that  perfecution.  The  other  nine  perfecutions 
were  all  after  the  deftru6fion  of  Jerufalem.  Some  of 
thefe  were  very  terrible  indeed,  and  far  exceeded  the 
firft  perfecution  under  Nero.  One  emperor  after  an- 
other fet  himfelf  with  the  utmoft  rage  to  root  out  the 
Chriftian  church  from  the  earth,  that  there  fhould  not 
be  fo  much  as  the  name  of  Chriftian  left  in  the  world. 
And  thoufands  and  millions  were  put  to  cruel  deaths  in 
thefe  perfecutions  ;  for  they  fpared  neither  fex  nor  age. 
but  killed  them  as  faft  as  they  could. 

Under  the  fecond  general  perfecution,  that  which 
was  next  after  the  defl;ruftion  of  Jerufalem,  the  Apoftle 
John  was  banifhed  to  the  ifle  of  Patmos,  where  he  had 
thofe  vifions  of  which  he  has  given  an  account  in  the 
Revelation.  Under  that  perfecution  it  was  reckoned, 
that  about  40,000  fuffered  martyrdom ;  which  yet  was 
nothing  to  what  were  put  to  death  under  fome  fucceed- 
ing  perfecutions.  Ten  thoufand  fuffered  that  one  kind 
of  cruel  death,  crucifixion,  in  the  third  perfecution 
under  the  emperor  Adrian.  Under  the  fourth  perfc" 
cution,  which  began  about  the  year  of  Chrill  162,  ma- 
ny fuffered  martyrdom  in  England,  the  land  of  our 
forefathers,  where  Chriftianity  had  been  planted  very 
early,  and,  as  is  fuppofed,  in  the  days  of  the  Apoftles, 
And  in  the  later  perfecutions,  the  Roman  emperors 
being  vexed  at  the  fruftration  of  their  predecelfors, 
who  were  not  able  to  extirpate  Chriftianity,  or  hinder 
its  progrefs,  were  enraged  to  be  the  more  violent  in 
their  attempts. 

Thus  a  great  part  of  the  firft  300  years  after  Chrift: 

was  fpent  in  violent  and  cruel  perfecutions  of  the  church 

by  the  Roman  powers.  Satan  was  very  unwilling  to  let 

go  his  hold  of  fo  great  a  part  of  the  world,  and  every 

K  k  way 


282  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  OF  Period  III. 

way  the  chief  part  of  it,  as  the  countyes  contained  in 
the  Roman  empire  were,  of  which  he  had  had  the  quiet 
pofTefiion  for  fo  many  ages  :  and  therefore,  when  he 
faw  it  going  fo  fall  out  of  his  hands,  he  beltirred  him- 
felf  to  his  utmoft :  all  hell  was,  as  it  were,  raifed  againft 
it  to  oppofeitwith  its  ntmoft  power. 

Satan  thus  exerting  himfelf  by  the  power  of  the  Hea- 
then Roman  empire,  is  called  the  great  red  dragon  in 
fcripture,  having  feven  heads  and  ten  horns,  fighting 
againft  the  woman  cloathed  with  the  fun,  as  in  the  12th 
of  Revelation.  And  the  terrible  conflift  there  was  be- 
tween the  church  of  Chrift,  and  the  powers  of  the 
Heathen  em.pire  before  Conftantine's  time,  is  there,  in 
verf.  7.  reprefented  by  the  war  between  Michael  and  his 
angels,  and  the  dragon  and  his  angels  :  "  And  there 
*'  was  war  in  heaven;  Michael  and  his  angels  fought, 
♦'  and  the  dragon  fought  and  his  angels." 

2.  I  would  take  notice  what  fuccefs  the  gofpel  had  in 
the  world  before  the  time  of  Conftantine,  notwithftand- 

ing  all  this  oppofuion. Though  the  learning  and 

power  of  the  Roman  empire  were  fo  great,  and  both 
were  employed  to  the  utmoft  againft  Chriftianity  to  put 
a  ftop  to  it,  and  to  root  it  out  for  fo  long  a  time,  and 
in  fo  many  repeated  attempts;  yet  all  was  in  vain;  they 
could  neither  root  it  out,  nor  put  a  ftop  to  it.  But 
ftill,  in  fpite  of  all  that  they  could  do,  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift  wonderfully  prevailed,  and  Satan's  Heathen 
kingdom  mouldered  and  confumed  away  before  it,  a- 
greeable  to  the  words  of  the  text,  "The  moth  fliall 
*'  eat  them  up  like  a  garment,  and  the  worm  fliall  eat 
*'  them  like  wool."  And  it  was  very  obfervable,  that 
for  the  moft  part  the  more  they  perfecuted  the  church, 
the  more  it  increafed,  infomuch  that  it  became  a  com- 
mon faying,  The  blood  of  the  martyrs  is  the  feed  of 
the  church.  Herein  the  church  of  Chrift  proved  io  be 
like  a  palm-tree;  of  which  tree  it  is  remarked,  that 
the  greater  weight  is  laid  upon  it,  or  hung  to  its 
branches,  the  more  it  grows  and  ftourifties ;  on  which 
account  probably  the  church  is  compared  toapalm-tree 
in  Cant.  vii.  7.  "  This  thy  ftature  is  like  to  a  palm-tree." 
Juftin  Martyr,  an  eminent  father  in  the  chriftian 
church,  who  lived  in  the  age  next  after  the  apoftles,  in 
ibme  writings  of  his,  which  are  yet  extant,  fays,  that 

in 


part  II.  1.  The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     -.83 

in  his  days  there  was   110  part  of  mankind,   whether 
Greeks  or  barbarians,  or  by   what  name  loever  they 
were  called,  even  the  moil:  rude  and  unpolifhed  nations, 
where  prayers  and  thankfgivings  were  not  made  to  tlie 
great  creator  of  the  world,  through  the  name  of  the 
crucified  Jefus,     Tertulhan,  another  eminent  father  in 
the  Chriftian  church,  w4io  lived  in  the  bcn^inning  of  tb<' 
following  age,   in  fome  of  his  writings  which  are  ycL 
extant,  fets  forth  how  that  in  his  day  the  chriftian  reli* 
gion  had  extended  itfelf  to  the  utmoft  bounds  of  the 
then  known   world,  in  which  he  reckons  Britain,  the 
country  of  our  forefathers ;  and  thence  demonllrates, 
that  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  was  then  more  extenfi\  e 
than  any  of  the  four  great  monarchies ;  and  moreover 
fays,  that  though  the  Chriftians  wereas  ftrangers  of  no 
long  {landing,  yet  they  had  filled  all  places  of  the  Ro- 
man dominions,  their   cities,   illands,  caftles,  corpora- 
tions, councils,  armies,  tribes,  the  palace,   fenate,  and 
courts  of  judicature ;  only  they  had  left  to  the  Heathen 
their  temples ;  and  that  if  they  fliould  all  agree  to  re- 
tire out  of  the   Roman   empire,   the  world  would  be 
amazed  at  the  folitude  and  defolation  that  would  enfue 
upon  it,  there  would  be  fo  few  left ;  and  that  the  Chri-i 
llians  were  enough  to  be  able  eafily  to   defend  them- 
felves,  if  they  were  difpofed  to  rife  up  in  arms  againft 
the  Heathen  magiftrates.     And  Pliny,  a  Pleathen  who 
lived  in  thofc  days,  fays,  multitudes  of  each  fex,  every 
age  and  quality,  were  become  Chriftians.     This  fuper- 
ftition,  fays  he,  having  infefted  and  over-run  not  the 
city  only,  but  towns  and  countries,  the  temples  and  fa-^ 
crifices  are  generally  defolate  and  forfaken. 

And  it  was  remarked  by  both  Heathen  and  Chri- 
ftian writers  in  thofe  days,  that  the  famous  Heathen 
oracles  in  their  temples,  where  princes  and  others  for 
inany  paft  ages  had  been  wont  to  inquire  and  receive 
anfwers  with  an  audible  voice  from  their  gods,  which 
were  indeed  anfwers  from  the  devil  ;  1  fay,  thofe  ora- 
cles were  now  filenced  and  ftruck  dumb,  and  gave  no 
more  anfwers  :  and  particularly  the  oracle  at  Delphos, 
which  was  the  moft  famous  Heathen  oracle  in  the 
whole  world,  which  both  Greeks  and  Romans  ufed  to 
confult,  began  to  ceafe  to  give  any  anfwers,  even 
from  the  birth  of  Chrift:  and  the  falfe  deity  who  was 
II  k  3  woi  ft  lipped. 


284  AHISTORYoF  Period  III. 

worfliipped,  and  ufed  to  give  anfwers  from  his  oracl^ 
in  that  temple,  being  once  inquired  of,  why  he  did 
not  now  give  anfwers  as  he  was  wont  to  do  ?  made 
this  reply,  as  feveral  Heathen  hiftorians  who  lived 
about  thofe  times  relate,  There  is  an  Hebrew  boy,  fays 
he,  who  is  king  of  the  gods,  who  has  commanded  me 
to  leave  this  houfe,  and  be  gone  to  hell,  and  therefore 
you  are  to  expeft  no  more  anfwers.  And  many  of 
the  Heathen  writers  who  lived  about  that  time,  fpealc 
much  of  the  oracles  being  lilenced,  as  a  thing  at  which 
they  wondered,  not  knowing  what  the  caufe  fhould 
be.  Plutarch,  a  Heathen  writer  of  thofe  times,  wrote 
a  particular  treatife  about  it,  which  is  ftill  extant. — 
And  Porphyry,  one  of  the  Heathen  writers  before  men- 
tioned, who  oppofed  the  Chriftian  religion,  in  his  wri- 
tings has  thefe  words  :  "  It  is  no  wonder  if  the  city 
lor  thefe  fo  many  years  has  been  over-iun  with  fick- 
nefs;  Efculapius,  and  the  reft  of  the  gods  having  with- 
drawn their  converfe  with  men  :  for  fince  Jefus  began 
to  be  worfhipped,  no  man  has  received  any  public  help 
or  benefit  by  the  gods." 

Thus  did  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  prevail  againfl  the 
"kingdom  of  Satan.    - 

3.  I  now  proceed  to  take  notice  of  the  peculiar  cir- 
cumftances  of  tribulation  and  diftrefs  juft  before  Con- 
Ilantine  the  Great  came  to  the  throne.  This  diftrefs 
they  fuffcred  under  the  tenth  Heathen  perfecution, 
which,  as  it  was  the  laft,  fo  it  was  by  far  the  heavieft, 
and  rnoft  fevere.  The  church  before  this,  after  the 
ceafmg  of  the  ninth  perfecution,  had  enjoyed  a  time  of 
cjuietnefs  for  about  forty  years  together ;  but,  abufmg 
their  liberty,  began  to  grow  cold  and  lifelefs  in  religion, 
and  carnal,  and  contentions  prevailed  among  them ;  by 
which  they  offended  God  to  fuffer  this  dreadful  trial  to 
come  upon  them.  And  Satan  having  loft  ground  fo 
much,  notwithftanding  all  his  attempts,  now  feemed  to 
beftir  himfelf  with  more  than  ordinary  rage.  Thofe 
who  were  then  in  authority  fet  themfelves  with  the  ut- 
moft  violence  to  root  out  Chriftianity,  by  burning  all 
Bibles,  and  deftroying  all  Chriftians;  and  therefore 
they  did  not  ftand  to  try  or  convi6l  them  in  a  formal 
procefs,  but  fell  upon  them  where-ever  they  could  ; 
fometimes  fetting  fire  to  houfes  where  multitudes  of 

them 


Partll.  1.     The  Woiik  oi  REDEMPTION.     2ii5 

them  were  afTembled,  and  burning  them  all  together: 
and  at  other  times  ilaughtering  multitudes  together : 
fo  that  fometimes  their  perfccutors  were  quite  fpeni 
with  the  labour  of  killing  and  tormenting  them  ;  and 
in  fome  populous  places,  fo  many  were  llain  together, 
that  the  blood  ran  like  torrents.  It  is  related,  th-it: 
feventeen  thoufand  martyrs  were  flain  in  one  niontlr^j 
time  ;  and  that  during  the  continuance  of  this  perfecu- 
tion  in  the  province  of  Egy-pt  alone,  no  lefs  than 
J 44,000  Chriflians  died  by  the  violence  of  their  per- 
fccutors, behdes  700,000  that  died  through  the  fa- 
tigues of  banilhment,  or  the  public  works  to  which 
they  were  condemned. 

This  perfecution  lafted  for  ten  years  together ;  and 
as  it  exceeded  all  foregoing  perfecutions  in  the  number 
of  martyrs,  fo  it  exceeded  them  in  the  variety  and  mul- 
titude of  inventions  of  torture  and  cruelty.  Some  au- 
thors who  lived  at  that  time,  fay,  they  were  innumer- 
able, and  exceed  all  account  and  exprefhon. 

This  perfecution  in  particular  was  veryfevere  in  Eng- 
land ;  and  this  is  that  perfecution  which  was  foretold  in 
Rev.  vi.  9.  10.  "  And  when  he  had  opened  the  fifth 
*'  feal,  I  faw  under  the  altar  the  fouls  of  them  that 
*'  were  flain  for  the  word  of  God,  and  for  the  telli- 
*'  mony  which  they  held.  And  they  cried  with  a  loud 
"  voice,  faying,  How  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true, 
♦'  dofl  thou  not  judge  and  avenge  our  blood  on  them 
'*  that  dwell  on  the  earth  ?" 

And  at  the  end  of  the  ten  years  during  which  this 
perfecution  continued,  the  Heathen  perfccutors  thought 
they  had  finifhed  their  work,  and  boafted  that  they 
had  utterly  deftroyed  the  name  and  fuperftition  of  the 
Chriftians,  and  had  reilored  and  propagated  the  wor- 
fhip  of  the  gods. 

Thus  it  was  the  darkeft  time  with  the  Chriftian 
church  juft  before  the  break  of  day.  They  were 
brought  to  the  greateft  extremity  juft  before  God  ap- 
peared for  their  glorious  deliverance,  as  the  bondage  ot 
the  Ifraelites  in  Egypt  was  the  moft  fevere  and  cruel 
juft  before  their  deliverance  by  the  hand  of  Mofes. — 
Their  enemies  thought  they  had  fwallowed  them  up 
juft  before  their  deftrudion,  as  it  was  with  Pharaoh  and 

hi§ 


£86  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  III, 

his  lioft  when  they  had  hemmed  in  the  children  of  If* 
rael  at  the  Red  Sea. 

4.  I  come  now,  in  the  fourth  place,  to  the  great  re-» 
volution  which  was  in  the  world  in   the  days  of  Con- 
ftantine,  which  was  in  many  refpefts  like  Chrift's  ap' 
pearing  in  the  clouds  of  Heaven  to  fave  his  people,  and 
judge  the  world.     The  people  of  Rome  being  weary  of 
the  government   of  thole   tyrants  to    v/hom  they  had 
lately  been  fubjetl,  fent  to  Conftantine,  who  was  then 
in  the  city  of  York  in  England,  to  come  and  take  the 
throne.     A^d  he  being  encouraged,  as  is  faid,  by  a  vi- 
fion  of  a  pillar  of  light  in  the  Heavens,  in  the  form  of 
a  crofs,  in  the  fight  of  his  whole  army,  with  this  in- 
fcription,  In  this  overcome  ; and  the  night  follow- 
ing, by  Chrift's  appearing  to  him  in  a  dream  with  the 
fame  crofs  in  his  hand,  who  dire61ed  him  to  make  a 
crofs  like  that,  to  be  his  royal  ftandard,  that  his  army 
micrht  fight  under  that  banner,  and  aifured  him  that  he 
ihould  overcome.     Accordingly  he  did,  and  overcame 
his  enemies,  and  took  polTeffion  of  the  imperial  throne, 
and  embraced  the  Chriflian  religion,  and  was  the  firft 
Chriilian  emperor  that  ever  reigned,     He  came  to  the 
throne  about  320  years  after  Chrift.    There  are  feveral 
things  which  I  would  take  notice  of  which  attended  or 
immediately    followed   Conflantine's    coming  to   the 
throne. 

(1)  The  Chriftian  church  was  thereby  wholly  deli- 
vered from  perfecution.  Now  the  day  of  her  deliver- 
ance came,  after  fuch  a  dark  night  of  affliftion  :  weep- 
ing had  continued  for  a  night,  but  now  deliverance  and 
joy  cam.ein  the  morning.  Now  God  appeared  to  judge 
his  people,  and  repented  himfelf  for  his  fervants,  when 
he  faw  their  power  was  gone,  and  that  there  was  none 
Ihut  up  or  left.  Chriftians  had  no  perfecutions  now  to 
fear.  Their  perfecutors  now  were  all  put  down,  and 
their  rulers  were  fome  of  them  Chriftians  hke  them- 
felves. 

(2)  God  now  appeared  to  execute  terrible  judgments. 
on  their  enemies.  Remarkable  are  the  accounts  which 
hiftory  gives  us  of  the  fearful  ends  to  which,  the  Hea- 
then emperors,  and  princes,  and  generals,  and  captains, 
and  other  great  men  came,  who  had  exerted  themfelves 
in  perfeciuing  the  Chrillians ;  d)ing  miferably,  one  and 

another, 


Part II.  1.     The  Wof  k  of  REDEMPTION.     2^ 

another,  under  exqiiifitc  torments  of  bo«iy,  ?.nd  hor- 
rors of  confcicncc,  with  a  nioil  vidhk  hand  of  God 
upon  them.  So  that  what  now  came  to  paf^  might  very 
fitly  be  compared  lo  their  hiding  themfcivcsin  the  dcn.s 
and  rocks  of  the  mountains. 

(3)  Heathenifm  now  was  in  a  great  nicafitre  abolifl"!- 
ed  throughout  the  Roman  empire.  Ir.uipcs  were  now 
deftroyed,  and  Heathen  temples  pAilled  down.  Imager 
of  gold  and  fiher  were  melted  down,  and  coined  into 
money.  Some  of  the  chief  of  their  idols,  which  were 
curioully  wrought,  were  brought  to  Confiantinople, 
and  there  drawn  with  ropes  up  and  down  the  flreets 
for  the  people  to  behold  and  laugh  at.  The  Heathen 
priefis  were  difperled  and  banifhed. 

(4)  The  Chriflian  church  was  brought  into  a  flate  of 
great  peace  and  profperity.  Now  all  Heathen  n)agif- 
trates  were  put  down,  and  only  Chriilians  were  advan- 
ced to  places  of  authority  all  over  the  empire.  They 
had  now  Chriflian  prefidents,  Chriflian  governors, 
ChriOian  judges  and  officers,  inflead  of  their  old  Hea- 
thenifh  ones.  Conilantine  fet  him.felf  upto  put  honor 
npon  Chriflian  bifhops  or  m.inifters,  and  to  build  and 
adorn  churches  ;  and  now  large  and  beautiful  Chriftian 
churches  were  erefted  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  inflead 
of  the  old  Heathen  temples. 

This  revolution  w^as  the  greatefl  revolution  and 
change  in  the  face  of  things  that  ever  came  to  pafs  in 
the  world  fmce  the  flood.  Satan,  the  prince  of  dark- 
nefs,  that  king  and  god  of  the  Heathen  world,  wascafl 
out.  The  roaring  lion  was  conquered  by  the  Lamb  of 
God,  in  the  flrongefi  dominion  that  ever  be  had,  even  tlic 
•Roman  empire.  This  was  a  remarkable  accomplifhmcnt 
-of  Jer.  X.  11.  "The  Gods  that  have  not  made  tlic 
*'  Heavens  and  the  earth,  even  they  fliall  perifh  from 
*'  the  earth,  and  from  under  thefe  Heavens."  The 
chief  part  of  the  world  was  now  brought  utterly  to 
cafl  off  their  old  gods  and  their  old  religion,  to  which 
they  had  been  accuflomed  much  longer  than  any  of 
their  hiftories  give  an  account  of.  They  liad  been  ac- 
cuflomed to  worfhip  the  gods  fo  long,  that  they  knew 
-not  any  begimiing  of  it.  It  was  formerly  fpoken  of  as 
a  thing  unknown  for  a  nation  to  change  their  godx*;, 
Jer.  ii.  10.  11.  but  now  the  greater  part  of  the  nation^ 

i  •  ^  of 


288  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  IIL 

of  the  known  world  were  brought  to  caft  ofF  all  their 
former  gods.  That  multitude  of  gods  that  they  wor- 
ihipped  were  all  forfaken.  Tlioufands  of  them  were 
cait  away  for  theworlhip  of  the  true  God,  and  Chrift 
the  only  Saviour  :  and  there  was  a  moft  remarkable 
fulfilment  of  that  in  If.  ii.  17.  18.  "  And  the  loftinefs 
"  of  man  fhall  be  bowed  down,  and  the  haughtinefs  of 
*'  men  Ihall  be  made  low  :  and  the  Lord  alone  fhall  be 
-*'  exalted  in  that  day.  And  the  idols  he  fhall  utterly 
*'  abohfli."  And  fmce  that,  it  has  come  to  pafs,  thaS 
thofe  gods  that  were  once  fo  famous  in  the  world,  as 
Jupiter,  and  Saturn,  and  Minerva,  and  Juno,  &c.  are 
only  heard  of  as  things  which  were  of  old.  They  have 
no  temples,  no  altars,  no  worfliippers,  and  have  not 
had  for  many  hundred  years. 

Now  is  come  the  end  of  the  old  Heathen  world  ia 
the  principal  part  of  it,  the  Roman  empire.  And  this 
great  revolution  and  change  of  the  ftate  of  the  world, 
with  that  terrible  deftruftion  of  the  great  men  who  had 
been  perfecutors,  is  compared  in  Rev.  vi.  to  the  end 
of  the  world,  and  Chrift  coming  to  judgment;  and  is 
what  is  moft  immediately  fignified  under  the  fixth  feal, 
which  followed  upon  the  fouls  under  the  altar,  crying, 
*'  How  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true,  doft  thou  not 
*'  avenge  our  blood  on  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth  ?'* 
This  vifion  of  the  fixth  feal,  by  the  general  confent  of 
divines  and  expofitors,  has  refpeft  to  this  downfal  of 
the  Heathen  Roman  empire  ;  though  it  has  a  more  re- 
mote refpeftto  the  day  of  judgment,  or  this  was  a  type 
of  it.  The  day  of  judgment  cannot  be  what  is  imme- 
diately intended  :  becaufewe  have  an  account  of  many 
events  which  were  to  come  to  pafs  under  the  feventh 
feal,  and  fo  were  to  follow  after  thofe  of  the  fixth  feaL 

What  came  to  pafs  now  is  alfo  reprefented  by  the 
Devil's  being  caft  out  of  Heaven  to  the  earth.  In  his 
great  ftrength  and  glory,  in  that  mighty  Roman  em- 
pire, he  had  as  it  were  exalted  his  throne  up  to  Heaven. 
But  now  he  fell  like  lightning  from  Heaven,  and  was 
confined  to  the  earth.  His  kingdom  w^as  confined  to 
meaner  and  more  barbarous  nations,  or  to  the  lower 
parts  of  the  world  of  mankind.  This  is  the  event 
foretold.  Rev.  xii.  9.  &c.  "  And  the  great  dragon  was 
*'  caft  out.  that  old  ferpent  called  the  Devil  and  Satan, 

"  which 


PartIL  1.     The  Woriv  of  REDEMPTION,    .^9 

"  which  deceiveih  the  whole  world :  he  was  call  out 
"  into  the  earth,  and  his  angels  ^ve^c  call:  out  with 
"  him,"  &c.  Satan  tempted  Chiifl:,  and  proniifcd  io 
give  him  the  glory  of  the  kingdoms  of  the  world  ;  but 
now  he  is  obliged  to  give  it  to  him  even  agaiall  his  will. 
This  was  a  glorious  fulfilment  of  diat  promile  which 
God  made  to  his  Son,  that  we  have  an  account  of  in 
If.  liii.  12.  "  Therefore  will  I  divide  him  a  portion  with 
*'  the  great,  and  he  Ihall  divide  the  fpoil  with  the* 
"  ilrong ;  becaufe  he  hath  poured  out  his  foul  unnj 
*'  death  :  and  he  was  numbered  with  thi3  tranfgreifors, 
*'  and  he  bare  the  fin  of  many,  and  made  intercellu^n 
"  for  the  tranfgrelTors."  This  was  a  great  fulfilment 
of  the  prophecies  of  the  Old  Teftament  concerning  the 
glorious  time  of  the  gofpel,  and  particularly  of  the  pro- 
phecies of  Daniel.  Now  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  is 
come  in  a  glorious  degree.  It  pleafed  the  Lord  God  of 
Heaven  to  fet  up  a  kingdom  on  the  ruins  of  Satan'^; 
kingdom.  And  fuch  fuccefs  is  there  of  the  purchase 
of  ChrilVs  redemption,  and  fuch  honour  does  the  Fa- 
ther put  upon  Chrift  for  the  difgrace  he  fufFercd  when 
on  earth.  And  now  fee  to  what  a  height  that  glorious 
building  is  ere61ed,  which  had  been  building  ever  fmce 
the  fall. 

Inference.  From  w^hat  has  been  fald  of  the  fuc- . 
cefs  of  the  gofpel  from  Chriit's  afcenfion  to  the  time  of 
Conftantine,  we  may  deduce  a  flrong  argument  of  the 
truth  of  the  Chriftian  religion,  and  that  the  gofpel  of 
Jefus  Chrift  is  really  from  God.  This  wonderful  fuc- 
cefs of  it  which  has  often  been  fpoken  of,  and  the  cir- 
cumftances  of  it  which  have  been  mentioned,  are  a 
flrong  argument  of  it  feveral  ways. 

1.  We  may  gather  from  what  has  been  faid,  that  it 
is  the  gofpel,  and  that  only,  which  has  a6fually  been 
the  means  of  bringing  the  world  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  true  God.  That  thofe  are  no  Gods  whom  the  Hea- 
then worfhipped,  and  that  there  is  but  one  only  God, 
is  what,  now  fince  the  gofpel  has  fo  taught  us,  we  can 
fee  to  be  truth  by  our  own  rcafon:  it  is  plainly  agreeable 
to  the  light  of  nature :  it  can  be  eafily  lliown  by  reafon. 
to  be  demonftrably  true.  The  very  Deifts  themfelves 
acknowledge,  that  it  can  be  demonflrw^tcd.  that  there  is 
T . !  one 


29a  A  HISTORY    o?  Period  HI. 

one  God,  and  but  one,  who  has  made  and  governs  the 
world.  But  now  it  is  evident  that  it  is  the  gofpel,  and 
that  only,  which  has  aftually  been  die  means  of  bring- 
ing men  to  the  knowledge  of  this  truth  :  it  was  not  the 
inlhuftions  of  philofophers.  They  tried  in  vain  : — 
**  The  world  by  wifdom  knew  not  God."  Till  the  gof- 
pel and  the  holy  fcriptures  came  abroad  in  the  worlds 
all  the  world  lay  in  ignorance  of  the  true  God,  and  in 
the  greateft  darknefs  with  refpeft  to  the  things  of  reli- 
gion, embracing  the  abfurdeft  opinions  und  praftices, 
which  all  civilized  nations  now  acknowledge  to  be  child- 
ifli  fooleries.  And  fo  they  lay  one  age  after  another^ 
and  nothing  proved  effeftual  to  enlighten  them.  The 
light  of  nature,  and  their  own  reafon,  and  all  the  wif- 
dom of  learned  men,  fignified  nothing  till  the  fcriptures 
came.  But  when  thefe  came  abroad,  they  were  fuc- 
cefsful  to  bring  the  world  to  an  acknowledgment  of 
the  one  only  true  God,  and  to  worfhip  and  ferve  him. 

And  hence  it  is  that  all  that  part  of  the  world  which, 
now  does  own  one  only  true  God,  Chriftians,  Jews> 
Mahometans,  and  even  Deifts  too,  originally  came  by 
the  knowledge  of  him.  It  is  owing  to  this  that  they 
are  not  in  general  at  this  day  left  in  Heathenilh  dark- 
nefs. They  have  it  all,  firft  of  all,  either  immediately 
from  the  fcriptures,  or  by  tradition  from  their  fathers, 
who  had  it  firft  from  the  fcriptures.  And  doubtlefs 
thofe  who  now  defpife  the  fcriptures,  and  boaft  of  the 
Itrength  of  their  own  reafon,  as  being  fufficient  to  lead 
into  the  knowledge  of  the  one  true  God,  if  the  gofpel 
had  never  come  abroad  in  the  world  to  enlighten  their 
forefathers,  would  have  been  as  fottifh  and  brutilh 
idolators  as  the  world  in  general  was  before  the  gofpel 
eame  abroad.  The  Mahometans,  who  own  but  one 
true  God,  at  firft  borrowed  the  notion  from  the  fcrip- 
tures :  for  the  firft  Mahometans  had  been  educated  in 
the  Chriftlan  religion,  and  apoftatized  from  it.  And 
this  is  evidential,  that  the  fcriptures  ^vere  defigned  of 
God  to  be  the  proper  means  to  bring  the  world  to  the 
knowledge  of  himfelf,  rather  than  human  reafon,  or 
any  thing  elfe.  For  it  is  unreafonable  to  fuppofe,  that 
the  gofpel,  and  that  only,  which  God  never  defigned 
as  the  proper  mean  for  obtaining  this  effcfl,  fhould 

aftually 


PartlL  1-    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    29* 

aftually  obtain  it,  and  that  after  human  rcafon,  which 
he  defigned  as  the  proper  mean,  had  been  tried  lor  a 
great  many  ages  without  any  effeft.  If  the  (criptures 
be  not  the  word  of  God,  tlien  they  are  nothing  but 
darknefs  and  delufion,  yea,  the  greateft  delufion  that 
ever  was.  Now,  is  it  reafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  God 
in  his  providence  would  make  ufe  of  fallhood  and  de- 
lufion, and  that  only,  to  bring  the  world  to  the  know- 
ledge of  himfelf,  and  that  no  part  of  it  fhould  be 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  him  any  other  way  ? 

2.  The  gofpel's  prevailing  as  it  did  againft  fuchpow- 
ierful  oppofitioi^,  plainly  ftiows  the  hand  of  God,  The 
Roman  government,  that  did  fo  violently  fet  itfelf  to 
hinder  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel,  and  to  fubdue  the 
church  of  Chrift,  was  the  moll  powerful  human  go- 
vernment that  ever  was  in  the  world ;  and  not  only  fo, 
but  they  feemed  as  it  were  to  have  the  church  in  their 
hands.  The  Chriftians  were  moftly  their  fubjefts,  un- 
der their  command,  and  never  took  up  arms  to  defend 
themfelves  :  they  did  not  gather  together,  and  Hand  in 
their  own  defence ;  they  armed  themfelves  wuth  no- 
thing but  patience,  and fuch  like  fpiritual  weapons:  and 
yet  this  mighty  power  could  not  conquer  them ;  but, 
on  the  contrary,  Chrillianity  conquered  them.  The 
Roman  empire  had  fubdued  the  world  ;  they  had  fub- 
dued  many  mighty  and  potent  kingdoms ;  they  fubdued 
the  Grecian  monarchy,  when  they  were  not  their  fub- 
jefts,  and  made  the  utmoft  refiftance  :  and  yet  they 
could  not  conquer  the  church  which  was  in  their  hands; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  were  fubdued,  and  finally  tri- 
umphed over  by  the  church. 

3.  No  other  fufficient  caufe  can  pofTibly  be  affigned 
of  this  propagation  of  the  gofpel,  but  only  God's  own 
power.  Nothing  elfe  can  be  devifed  as  the  reafon  of  it 
but  diis.  There  was  certainly  fome  reafon.  Here  was. 
a  great  and  wonderful  efifcft,  the  moft  remarkable 
change  that  ever  was  in  the  face  of  the  world  of  man- 
kind fince  the  flood ;  and  this  effeft  was  not  without 
fome  caufe.  Now,  what  other  caufe  can  be  devifed 
but  only  die  divine  power  ?  It  was  not  the  outward 
ftrength  of  the  inftruments  which  were  employed  in  it. 
At  firft,  the  gofpel  was  preached  only  by  a  few  fifher-. 
men,  who  were  without  power  and  worldly  intereft  to, 

h\z  fuppdrt, 


292  A  H  I  S  T  O     R  Y    OF  Period  III. 

fupport  them.  It  was  not  their  craft  and  poHcy  that 
produced  this  wonderful  eff'eft  ;  for  they  were  poor  il- 
literate men.  It  was  not  the  agreeablenefs  of  the  ftory 
they  had  to  tell  to  the  notions  and  principles  of  man- 
kind. This  was  no  pleaiant  fable :  A  crucified  God 
and  Saviour  was  to  the  Jews  a  llumbling-block,  and  to 
the  Greeks  fooliflmefs.  It  was  not  the  agreeablenefs  of 
their  doftiines  to  the  dlfpofitions  of  men  :  for  nothing 
is  more  contrary  to  the  corruptions  of  men  than  the 
pure  doftrines  of  the  gofpel.  This  effeft  therefore  can 
have  proceeded  from  no  other  caufe  than  the  power 
and  agency  of  God  :  and  if  the  power  of  God  was 
what  was  exercifed  to  caufe  the  gofpel  to  prevail,  then 
the  gofpel  is  his  word;  for  furely^  God  does  notufehis 
almighty  power  to  promote  a  mere  impofture  and  delu- 
fion.  ,  -■    -      • 

4.  This  fuccefs  is  agreeable  to  what  Chrift  and  his 

apollles  foretold. Matth.  xvi.  18.  "Upon  this  rock 

*'  will  I  build  my  church  :  and  the  gates  of  hell  fliall  not 
*'  prevail  agaiult  it."  John  xii.  24.  "  Verily  verily  I 
*'  fay  unto  you,  Except  a  corn  of  wheat  fall  into  the 
*'  ground,  and  die,  it  abideth  alone:  but  if  it  die,  it 
"  bringeth  forth  much  fruit."  And  verf.  31.32.  "  Now 
"  is  the  judgment  of  this  world:  now  fhall  the  prince 
*'  of  this  world  be  caft  out.  '  And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up 
**  from  the  earth,  will  draw  ail  men  unto  m.e."  John 
xvi.  8.  "  When  he  (the  comforter)  is  come,  he  will 
^'  reprove  the  world  of  fin,  of  righteoulhefs,  and  of 
*'  judgment,— becaufe  the  prince  of  this  world  is  judg- 
-  ed."     -  ■       '  

So  the  Apoftle  Paul,  in  1  Cor.  chap.  i.  21. — 28.  de- 
clares, how  that  after  the  world  by  wifdom  knew  not 
God,  it  pleafed  God,  by  the  fooliihnefs  of  preaching, 
to  fave  them  that  believe ;  and  that  God  chofe  the  fool- 
ifh  things  of  the  world,  to  confound  the  wife;  and 
weak  things  of  the  World,  to  confound  the  things  which 
are  mighty;  and  bafe  things  of  the  world,  and  things 
which  are  defpifed,  yea,  and  things  which  are  not,  to 
bring  to  nought  things  that  are. If  any  man  fore- 
tells a  thing,  very  likely  in  itfelf  to  come  to  pafs,  frona 
caufes  which  can  be  forefeen,  it  is  no  great  argument  of 
a  revelation  from  God  :  but  when  a  thing  is  foretold 
which  is  very  unlikely  ever  to  come  to  pafs,  is  entirely 

contrary 


Part  II.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    29^ 

contrary  to  the  common  courfe  of  things,  and  yet  it 
dot:s  come  to  pafs  juft  agreeable  to  the  pretUtHon,  ahis 
is  a  flrong  argument  that  the  prediction  was  from 
Cod. 

Thus  the  confiileration  of  the  manner  of  the  propa- 
gation and  fnccefs  of  the  gofpel  during  the  time  which 
has  been  fpoken  of,  affords  great  evidence  that  the 
vlcriptures  are  the  word  of  God. 

III.  I  am  now  to  fhow  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chriil's  re- 
demption is  carried  on  from  the  time  of  die  overthro^\r 
of  the  Heathen  Roman  empire  in  the  time  of  Conftan- 

•  tine  the  Great,  till  the  fall  of  Antichrift,  and  the  de- 
ilrutlion  of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on  earth,  which  is 
the  third  great  difpenfation  which  is  in  fcriplure  com- 

•  pared  to  Chriil's  coming  to  judgment.  This^s  a  pe- 
riod wherein  many  great  and  wonderful  things  are 
brought  to  pafs.  Herein  is  contained  a  long  feries  of 
wonders  of  divine  providence  towards  the  Chriitian 
church.  The  greater  part  of  the  book  of  Revelation  is 
taken  up  in  foretelling  the  events  of  this  period. 

The  fuccefs  of  Chriil's  purchafe  of  redemption  iji 
this  period,  appears  mainly  at  the  clofe  ot  it,  when  Anti- 
chrift  comes  to  fall,  when  there  will  be  a  far  more  glori- 
ous fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  than  ever  was  before  :  and  that 
-long  feries  of  events  which  are  before,  feem  to  be  only 
to  prepare  the  way  for  it.  And  in  order  to  a  more  clear 
view  of  the  great  works  of  God  in  accomplilhing  the  fuc- 
cefs of  Chriil's  redemption,  and  our  feeing  the  glory  of 
them,  it  will  be  neceilary,  as  we  have  done  in  the  fore- 
going periods,  to  confider  not  only  the  fuccefs  itfelf, 
-but  the  oppohtion  made  to  it,  and  the  great  works  of 
Satan  in  this  period  againll  the  church  and  kingdom  of 
Chriil :  and  therefore,  in  taking  a  view  of  this  pe- 
-iiod,  I  would  take  notice  of  events  which  may  be  re- 
ferred to  either  of  thefe  heads,  viz.  either  to  the  head 
of  Satan's  oppohtion  to  the  fuccefs  of  Chriil's  redemp- 
tion, or  to  the  head  of  the  fuccefs  of  ChiiU's  redemp- 
lion  :  and  for  the  more  orderly  confideration  of  the 
events  of  this  period,  I  would  divide  it  into  thefe  four 
parts  :  the  firil  reaching  from  tb.e  dcd ruction  of  the 
Heathen  empire  to  the  rile  of  Antichriil;  thefecond  fron? 
the  rife  of  Antichriil  to  the  reformation  in  Luther's 

time  J 


291  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  III, 

fime;  the  third,  frpm  thence  to  the  prefent  time;  the 
fourth,  from  the  prefent  time  till  Antichrift  is  fallen, 
and  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on  earth  is  deftroyed. 

ift.  I  would  confider  the  events  of  the  firft  part  pf 
this  period,  reaching  from  the  deltruftion  of  the  Hea- 
then empire  to  the  rife  of  Anticlirift.  And  here,  firjlf 
I  would  take  potice  of  the  oppofition  Satan  made  in  this 
fpacc  of  time  to  the  church  :  and,  fccondlyy  the  fuccefs 
that  the  gofpel  had  in  it, 

1.  The  oppofftion.  Satan  being  caft  out  of  his  old 
Heathen  empire,  the  great  red  dragon,  after  fo  fore  a 
conflicl  with  Michael  and  his  angels  for  the  greater  part 
of  three  hundred  years,  beiiig  at  laft  entirely  routed 
and  vanquiilied,  fo  that  no  place  was  found  any  more 
in  Heaven  for  him,  but  he  was  caft  down,  as  it  were, 
from  Heaven  to  the  earth ;  yet  does  not  give  over  his  op- 
pofition to  the  woman,  the  church  of  Chrift,  concerning 
tvhich  all  this  confli6l  had  been.  But  he  is  ftill  in  a 
rage,  and  renews  his  attempts,  and  has  recourfe  to  new 
devices  againft  the  church.  The  ferpent,  after  he  is  caft 
out  of  Heaven  to  the  earth,  cafls  out  of  his  mouth  wa- 
ter as  a  flood,  to  caufe  the  woman  to  be  carried  away 
of  the  flocd.  The  oppofition  that  he  made  to  the 
church  of  Chrift  before  the  rife  of  Antichrift,  was 
principally  of  two  forts.  It  was  either  by  corrupting 
the  cliurch  of  Chrift  with  herefies,  pr  by  new  endea- 
vours to  rercore  Pagan ifm. 

{i\  I  would  obferve,  that  after  the  deftru6lion  of  the 
Heathen  Roman  empire,  Satan  infefted  the  church 
with  heresies.  Though  there  had  been  fo  glorious  ^ 
work  of  God  in  delivering  the  church  from  her  Hea- 
then perfecutors,  and  overthrowing  the  Heathen  em- 
pire ;  yet  tlie  days  of  the  church's  travail  not  being 
ended,  and  thefet  time  of  herprofperity  not  being  yet 
come,  as  being  v.'hat  was  to  fucceed  the  fall  of  Anti- 
chrift, therefore  the  peace  and  profperity  which  the 
church  enjoyed  in  Conftantine's  time,  was  but  very 
Ihort :  it  Vvas  a  refpite,  which  gave  the  church  a  time  of 
peace  and  hlence,  as  it  wtv&Jpr  half  an  hour,  wherein 
the  four  angels  held  the  four  winds  from  blowing,  till 
the  fci-vanfs  of  God  Ihould  be  fealed  in  their  foreheads. 
But.  the  church  foon  began  to  be  greatly  infefted  with 
herefies ;  the  two  principal,  and  thofc  which  did  moft. 

irifeft 


Part  II.  t.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION. 


•95 


infeft   the  church,  were  the  Arlan  and   Pelao'ian  herc- 
fies. 

The  Arians  began  foon  afler  Conftantine  came  to  tl^e 
throne.  They  denied  the  doctrnie  of  the  Trinity,  and 
the  divinity  of  Chrill  and  the  Holy  Ghoft,  and  main- 
tained, that  they  were  but  mere  creatures.  This  here- 
fy  increafed  more  and  more  in  the  church,  and  pievail- 
ed  hke  a  flood,  which  threatened  to  overflow  all,  and 
entirely  to  carry  away  the  church,  irifomuch  that  before 
that  age  was  out,  that  is,  before  the  fourth  century  af- 
ter Chrill  was  finiihed,  the  greater  part  of  the  Chrifliaii 
church  were  become  Arians.  There  were  fome  em- 
perors the  fuccelTors  of  Conflantine,  who  were  A- 
rians  ;  fo  that  the  Arians  being  the  prevailing  party, 
and  having  the  civil  authority  on  their  fide,  did  raiie 
a  great  persecution  againit  the  true  church  of  Chrill ; 
fo  that  this  herefy  might  w^ell  be  compared  to  a  flood 
out  of  the  mouth  of  the  ferpent,  which  threatened  to 
overthrow  all,  and  quite  carry  away  the  woman. 

The  Pelagian  herefy  arofe  in  tiie  beginning  of  the 
next  century.  It  began  by  one  Pelagms^  who  was  born 
in  Britain  :  his  Britifhname  ^vzs  Morgan.  He  denied 
original  fin,  and  the  influence  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in 
converfion,  and  held  the  power  of  free  will,  and  many 
other  things  of  like  tendency ;  and  this  herefy  did  for 
a  while  greatly  infeft  the  church.  Pelagius's  principal 
antagonift,  who  wrote  in  defence  of  the  orthodox  faith, 
was  St.  Aguftin. 

{2)  The  other  kind  of  oppofition  which  Satan  made 
againft  the  church,  was  in  his  endeavours  to  reflore 
Paganifm.  And  his  firft  attempt  to  reftore  it  in  the 
Rom^an  empire,  was  by  Julian  the  apoftate.  Julian 
was  nephew  to  Conftantine  the  Great.  When  Con- 
flantine died,  he  left  his  empire  to  his  three  foiis  ; 
and  when  they  were  dead,  Julian  the  apoftate  reign- 
ed in   their  ftead. He  had  been  a  profelfcd  Chril- 

tian  ;  but  he  fell  from  Chriftianit}-,  and  turned  Pagan; 
and  therefore  is  called  ik<^  apo/late.  When  he  came  to 
the  throne,  he  ufcd  his  utmoft  endeavours  to  overthrow- 
the  Chriftian  church,  and  fet  up  Paganifm  again  in  the 
empire.  He  put  down  the  Chriftian  magiih-ates,  and 
fet  up  Heathens  in  their  room  :  he  re -built  the  lieaihcn 
temples,  and  fet  up  the  Heathen  worlhipin  the  empire, 

and 


296  A    HISTORY    OF  Period  IIL 

and  became  a  nioit  notorions  perfecutor  of  the  Chrif- 
tians,  and,  as  is  thought,  againft  his  own  hght :  he  ufed 
to  call  Chrift,  by  way  of  reproach,  the  Galilean.  He 
was  killed  with  a  lance  in  his  wars  w^th  the  Perfians. 
When  he  faw  that  he  was  mortally  wounded,  he  took 
a  handful  of  his  blood,  and  threw  it  up  towards  Hea- 
ven, crying  our,  1-hou  haft  overcome,  O  Galilean. 
And  he  is  commonly  thought  by  divines,  to  have  com- 
mit-ted  the  unpardonable  fm. 

Another  way  that  Satan  attempted  to  reftore  Pagan- 
ifm  in  the  Roman  empire,  was  by  the  invajions  andcon- 
quejls  of  Heathen  nations.  For  in  this  Ipace  of  lime 
that  we  are  upon,  the  Goths  and  Vandals,  and  other 
Heathen  barbarous  nations  that  dwelt  in  the  north  of 
the  Roman  empire,  invaded  the  empire,  and  obtained 
great  conquefls,  and  even  over-ran  the  empire,  and  in 
the  fifth  century,  took  the  city  of  Rome,  and  finally 
fiibdued  and  conquered,  and  took  pofTeflion  of  the  weii- 
ern  empire,  as  it  was  called,  or  the  weftern  h.alf  of  the 
empire,  and  divided  it  amongft  them ;  divided  it  into 
ten  kingdoms,  with  which  began  the  ten  horns  of  the 
beaft;  for  w^e  are  told,  that  the  ten  horns  are  ten 
kings,  who  fhould  rife  in  the  latter  part  of  the  Roman 
eranire  :  Thefe  are  alfo  reprefented  by  the  ten  toes  of 
Nebuchadnezzar's  image.  The  invafion  and  conqucfts 
of  thefe  Heathen  nations  are  fuppofed  to  be  foretold  iu 
the  8th  chr^pter  of  Revelation,  in  v/hat  cam.e  to  pals 
imder  the  founding  of  the  four  firft  trumpets.  Now 
thefe  nations;  who  now  took  pofi'effion  of  the  w-eftern 
en}pire,  were  Heathens  ;  fo  that  by  their  means  Hea- 
thcnifm  was  again  for  a  while  reftored  after  it  had  been 
looted  out. 

So  much  for  the  oppofition  of  Satan  againft  the  fuc- 
cefs  of  the  gofpel  during  this  fpace  before  the  rife  of 
Antichrift.     I  proceed, 

2.  To  ihow  what  fuccefs  there  was  of  the  gofpel  in 
tliis  fpace  notwithftanding  this  oppofition. 

(1)  I  would  obferve,  that  the  oppofition  of  Satan  in 
thofe  things  was  baffled.  Though  the  dragon  caft  out 
of  his  mouth  fuch  a  flood  after  th.e  woman  to  carry  her 
away,  yet  lie  could  not  obtain  hisdefign  ;  but  theeaith 
helped  the  woman,  and  opened  her  mouth,  and  fwal- 
lowcd  up  the  flood  which  the  dragon    caft  out  of  hi& 

mouth. 


Partll.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     2^7 

mouth.  Thefe  herefics,  which  for  a  ^\'hi!e  fo  irrnch 
prevailed,  yet  after  a  while  dwiiulled  away,  and  oulio- 
doxy  was  again  reltored :  and  his  attempt  by  Julian 
was  baffled  at  his  death. 

(2)  The  gofpel,  during  this  fpace  of  time,  was  fur- 
ther propagated  amonglt  many  barbarous  Heathen  na- 
tions in  the  confines  of  the  Roman  empire.  In  the 
time  of  Conflantine  tliere  was  a  confiderable  propaga- 
tion of  the  gofpel  in  the  Eaft-Indies,  chiefly  by  the  mi- 
ni flry  of  one  Frumentius.  Great  numbers  of  the  Ibe- 
rians, an  Heathen  people,  were  converted  to  Chriftian- 
ity  by  a  Chriflian  woman  of  eminent  piety,  whom  they 
liad  taken  captive.  And  fome  account  is  given  of  fe- 
veral  other  barbarous  nations  who  were  not  within  the 
Roman  empire,  that  great  numbers  of  them  were 
brought  to  receive  the  gofpel  by  the  teaching  and  ex- 
ample of  captives  whom  they  had  taken  in  war.  And 
after  this,  about  the  year  of  Chrift  372,  the  gofpel  was 
propagated  among  the  barbarous  people  that  dwelt  in 
Arabia  ;  as  it  was  alfb  among  fome  of  the  northern  na- 
tions ;  particularly  a  prince  of  the  country  of  the  Goths 
about  this  time  became  Chriflian,  and  a  great  number 
of  his  people  with  him.  Towards  the  latter  end  of  this 
century,  the  gofpel  was  alfo  further  propagated  among 
the  Perfians,  and  alfo  the  Scythians,  a  barbarous  people, 
that  the  apoflle  mentions  in  Col.  iii.  11.  "  Baibarian, 
*'  Scythian,  bond  nor  free." 

And  after  this,  about  the  year  430,  there  \vas  a  re- 
markable converfion  of  a  Heathen  peoplfe  called  the 
Bargiindians^  to  the  Chriflian  faith.  About  the  fame 
time,  in  this  age,  the  gofpel  began  to  be  propagated  in 
Ireland  ;  and  the  Irifli,  -who  till  now  had  been  Heathen, 
began  to  receive  the  Chriflian  faith.  About  the  fame 
time  it  was  further  propagated  among  fome  barbarous 
people  in  Scotland,  and  alfo  in  fome  other  places.  In 
the  next  century  to  this,  one  Zathus,  2i  Heathen  king, 
who  ruled  over  a  people  called  the  Colchiatis,  was 
brought  to  renounce  his  Heathenifm,  and  to  embrace 
tlie  Chriflian  religion.  Several  other  barbarous  nations 
are  recorded  to  have  renounced  Heathenifm  and  cm- 
braced  Chriflianity  about  this  time,  that  I  cannot  fland 
to  mention. 

Thus  I  Jiave  bricflv  confidered  the  principal  events  of 
M  m  prox'idciice 


igB  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  OF  Period IIL 

providence  which  concern  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  of 
Chrift  from  Conlhntine  to  the  rife  of  Antichriif. 

2 My,  I  come  now  to  the  feccnd  part  of  the  time  from 
Conftantine  to   the  deilru6tion  of  Antichrilt,  viz.  that 
which  reaches  from  the  rife  of  Antichrift  to  the  refor- 
ination  by  Luther  and  others.     And  this  is-  the  darkeft 
and  moft  difmal  day  that  ever  the  Chriflian  Church 
faw,  and  probably  the  darkell  that  ever  it  will  lee.  The 
time  of  the  church's  aifliftion  and  perfecution,  as  was 
6bferved  before,  is   frC>m  Chrilt's  refurreftion  till  the 
deftrudion  of  Antichrift,  excepting  what  the  day  is,  as 
it  were,  fhortened  by  fome  intermilfions  and  times  of  re- 
fpite,  which  God  gives  for  the  eleti's  fake.     But  this 
time,  from  the  rife  of  Antichrift  till  the  reformation,- 
was  a   fpace  wherein  the  Chriftian  church  was  in  its 
greateft  depth  of  depreffion,  and  its  darkeft  tim6  of  alL 
The  true  church  in  this  fpace  was  for  many  hundred 
years   in  a  ftate  of  great  obfcurity,  like  the  woman  in 
the  wildernefs :  indeed  fhe  was  almoft;  hid  from  fight 
and  obfervation.  In  fpeaking  of  the  events  of  this  fpace 
bf  time,  I  would,    i .   Take  notice  of  the  great  machi- 
nations and  works  of  the  Devil  againft  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift  during  this  time :  2.  How  the  church  of  Chrift 
was  upheld  during  this  time. 

1.  I  would  take  notice  of  the  great  works  of  the  De^ 
vil  againft  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  during  this  time.    Sa- 
tan had  done  great  things  againft  the  Chriftian  church 
tcfore,  but  had  been  baffled  once  and  again.     Michael 
and  his  angels  had  obtained  a  glorious  vi6iory.     How 
terrible  was  his  oppofition  during  the  continuance  of 
the  Heathen  empire ;  and  how   glorious  w^as  Ch rift's 
vicfory  and  triumph  over  him  in  the  time  of  Conftan- 
tine !  It  pleafed  God  now  to  prepare  the  way  for  a  yet 
more  glorious  viftory  over  him,  to  fuffer  him  to  rene^v 
his  ftrength,  and  to  do  the  utmoft  that  his  power  and 
fubtilty  can  help  him  to;  and  therefore  he  fuffers  him 
to  have  a  long  time  to  lay  his  fchemes,  and  toellablilh 
his  intereft,   and  make  his  matters  ftrong ;  and  fufiers 
him  to  carry  his  defigns  a  great  length  indeed,  almoft 
to  the  fwallowing  up  of  his  church  ;  and  to  exercife  a 
high,  and  proiid,    and  almoft  uncontrouled  dominion 
in  the  world,  a  long  time  before  Chrift  finally  conquers, 
and  fubdues,  and  utterly  ruins  his  vifible  kingdom  on 

earth. 


Part  II.  I.   The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    299 

earth,  as  he  will  do  in  the  time  of  the  deftruflion  of 
Antichiilt:  thus  gloiioufly  triumphing  over  iiim,  af.. 
ter  he  has  done  the  utmolt  that  his  j)o\vcr  and  fubtilty 
can  extend  to,  and  Ihowing  that  he  is  above  him,  after 
he  has  dealt  moll  proudly,  and  lifted  himlelf  highell  of 
all. 

The  two  great  works  of  the  Devil  which  he  in  this 
fpace  of  time  wrought  againll  the  kingdom  of  Chnlt, 
are  his  ere6ting  his  Antichrillian  and  Mahometan  kingr 
doms,  which  have  been,  and  IHll  are,  two  kingdoms  of 
great  extent  and  llrength,  both  together  fwallowing  up 
the  ancient  Roman  empire ;  the  kingdom  of  Antichiilt 
fwallowing  up  the  Weitern  empire,  and  Satan's  Maho- 
metan kingdom  theEaltern  empire.  As  the  fcripture^ 
in  the  book  of  Revelation  reprefent  it,  it  is  in  the  de- 
flrutHon  of  thcfe  that  the  glorious  victory  of  Chrift, 
at  the  introdudion  of  the  glorious  times  of  the  church, 
will  mainly  confift.  And  here  let  us  briefly  obferve 
how  Satan  erefts  and  maintains  thefe  two  great  king- 
doms of  his  in  oppofition  to  the  kingdom  of  ChrilL 

(1)  With  refpeft  to  the  kingdom  of  Anticlirifl. — 
This  feems  to  be  the  mailer-piece  of  all  the  contrivances 
of  the  Devil  againft  the  kingdom  of  Chrilt,  and  is  evi- 
dently fo  fpoken  of  in  fcripture,  and  therefore  Anti- 
clirifl: is  the  man  of  fin,  or  that  man  of  fin,  2  Thcf.  ii. 
3.  He  is  fo  called  emphatically,  as  though  he  were  fo 
eminently.  So  he  is  called  Antichnji,  -which  fignifics 
the  opponent  pr  adverfaiy  of  Chrilt.  Not  that  he  is 
the  only  opponent  of  Chrilt ;  there  were  many  others 
befider,  him.  The  Apoftle  John  obferves,  that  in  his 
days  there  were  many  Antichrifls.  But  yet  this  is  call- 
ed the  Antichriji,  as  though  there  were  none  but  he, 
becaufe  he  was  fo  eminently,  and  above  all  others.  So 
this  contrivance  of  the  Devil,  is  called  the  myflery  of 
imqmty,  2  Tlief.  ii.7.  And  we  find  no  enemy  of  Chrill 
one  half  fo  much  fpoken  of  in  the  prophecies  of  Reve- 
lation as  this ;  and  the  dellruftion  of  no  enemy  is  fpo- 
ken of  as  fo  glorious  and  happy  for  the  church.  The 
craft  and  fubtilty  of  the  Devil,  above  all  appears  in  this 
work  of  his ;  as  might  be  ihown,  were  it  not  that  it 
would  con  fume  too  m.uch  time. 

This  is  a  contrivance  of  the  Devil  to  turn  the  miniflry 
of  the  Chrillian  church  into  a  miniflry  of  the  Devilj 
M  m  2  '  and 


300  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  OF  Period  III. 

and  to  turn  thefe  angels  of  the  churches  into  fallen  angels, 
and  fo  into  devils.  And  in  the  tyranny,  and  fuperflition, 
and  idolatry,  and  perfeciuion,  which  he  fets  up,  he  con- 
triv^es  to  make  an  image  of  ancient  Paganifm,  and  more 
than  to  rellore  what  was  loft  in  the  empire  by  the  ovcr- 
thro\'/  of  Paganifm  in  the  time  of  Conftantine  :  fo  that 
by  thefe  means  the  head  of  the  beaft,  which  was  wound- 
ed unto  death  in  Conftanline,  has  his  deadly  wound 
healed  in  Antichrift  ;  Rev.  xiii.  3.  And  the  dragon 
that  formerly  reigned  in  the  Heathen  Roman  empire, 
being  caft  out  thence,  after  the  beaft  with  feven  heads 
and  ten  horns  rifes  up  out  of  the  fea,  gives  him  his 
power,  and  feat,  and  great  authority ;  and  all  the  world 
wonders  after  the  beaft. 

1  am  far  from  pretending  to  determine  the  time  when 
the  reign  of  Antichrift  began,  which  is  a  point  that  has 
been  fo  much  controverted  among  divines  and  expofi- 
tors.  It  is  certain  that  the  1260  days,  or  years,  ^vhich 
are  fo  offen  in  fcripture  mentioned  as  the  time  of  the 
continuance  of  Antichrift's  reign,  did  not  commence 
before  the  year  of  Chrift  479  ;  becaufe  if  they  did,  they 
would  have  ended,  and  Antichrift  would  have  fallen 
before  now.  But  I  fliall  not  pretend  to  determine  pre- 
rifely  how  long  it  was  after  this  that  that  period  began. 
The  rife  of  Antichrift  was  gradual.-  The  Chriftian 
church  corrupted  itfelf  in  many  things  prefently  after 
Conftan line's  time,  growing  n:ore  and  more  fuperfti- 
tious  in  its  worfliip,  bv  degrees  bringing  in  many  cere- 
jnonies  into  the  worfhip  of  God,  till  at  length  they 
brought  in  the  worftiip  of  faints,  and  fet  up  images  in 
their  churches,  and  the  clergy  in  general,  and  efpecial- 
ly  the  bifl^op  of  Rome,  afllimed  more  and  more  autho- 
rity to  bimfelf.  In  the  primitive  times  he  was  only  a 
minifter  of  a  congregation  ;  then  a  ftanding  moderator 
of  a  preft^ytery ;  then  a  diocefan  bifhop;  then  a  metro- 
j^olitan,  which  is  equivalent  to  an  archbifliop  ;  then  he 
was  a  patriarch  ;  then  afterwards  he  claimed  the  power 
of  univerfal  bifhop  over  the  whole  Chriftian  church 
through  the  world ;  wherein  he  was  oppofcd  for  a  while, 
1  ut  afterwards  was  confirmed  in  it  by  the  civil  power  of 
t'te  Emperor  in  the  year  606.  After  that  he  claimed 
i!ie  power  of  a  temporal  prince  ;  and  fo  was  wont  to 
rjrry  two  fwords,  to  fignify  that  both  the  temporal  and 

fuiritual 


Part  II.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     301 

fpiritual  fword  was  bis ;  and  claimed  mere  and  more 
authority,  till  at  kngth  he,  as  Chrill's  vicegerent  on 
earth,  claimed  the  very  fame  power  that  Chrili  would 
have,  if  he  was  prefent  on  earth,  and  reigned  on  his 
throne,  or  the  fame  power  that  belongs  to  God,  and 
iifed  to  be  called  God  on  earth  ;  and  ufed  to  be  fubmitied 
to  by  all  the  princes  of  Chriflendom.  He  claimed 
power  to  crown  princes,  and  to  degrade  them  at  hisplea- 
fure ;  and  this  power  was  owned:  and  it  came  to  that, 
that  kings  and  emperors  ufed  to  kifs  his  feet.  The  em- 
perors wei^  wont  to  receive  their  crowns  at  his  hands, 
and  princes  were  wont  to  dread  the  difpleafure  of  the 
Pope  as  they  would  dread  a  thunderbolt  from  Heaven; 
for  if  the  Pope  was  pleafedto  excommunicate  a  prince, 
all  his  fubjefis  were  at  once  freed  from  their  allegiance 
to  him ;  yea,  and  obliged  not  to  own  him  any  more,  on 
pain  of  excommunication ;  and  not  only  fo,  but  any 
man  might  kill  him  wherever  he  found  him.  And 
further,  the  Pope  was  believed  to  have  power  to  damn 
men  at  pleaiure  ;  for  whoever  died  under  his  excom- 
munication, was  looked  upon  as  certainly  damned. 
And  feveral  emperors  were  aftually  depofed,  and  cje6}- 
ed,  and  died  mifcrably  by  his  means  ;  and  if  the  people 
of  any  flate  or  kingdom  did  not  pleafe  him,  he  had 
power  to  lay  that  ftate  or  kingdom  under  an  interdic>, 
which  was  a  fentence  pronounced  b)'  the  Pope  againit 
that  flate  or  kingdon),  whereby  all  facred  adminiftra- 
tions  among  them  could  have  no  validity.  There  could 
be  no  valid  baptifms,  or  facraments,  or  prayers  or 
preaching,  or  pardons,  till  that  interdi6i:  was  taken  off; 
fo  that  that  people  remained,  in  their  apprehenfion,  in  a 
miferable,  damnable  ftate,  and  therefore  dreaded  it  as 
they  would  a  ftorm  of  fire  andbrimftone  from  Heaven. 
And  in  order  to  execute  his  wrath  on  a  prince  or  peo- 
ple with  whom  the  Pope  was  difpleafed,  other  princes 
muft  alio  be  put  to  a  gj  eat  deal  of  trouble  and  expence. 
And  as  the  Pope  and  his  clergy  robbed  the  people  of 
tlieir  ecclefiaflical  and  civil  liberties  and  privileges,  fo 
they  alfo  robbed  tlicm  of  their  eilates,  and  drained  all 
Cliriftenuom  of  their  m.oney,  and  engrolled  the  mod 
of  their  riches  into  their  own  coffers,  by  their  vail  re- 
venues, befides  pay  for  pardons  and  indulgences,  bap- 
tifms and  extreme  un6tions,  deliverance  out  of  purga- 

toiv. 


302  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  III. 

toiy,  and  an  hundred  other  diings. See  how  well 

this  agrees  with  the  prophecies,  2  Thef.  ii.  3.  4.  Dan. 
VI!.  20.  21.  Rev.  xiii.  b.  7.  and  chap.  xvii.  3.  4. 

During  this  time  aifo  luperltition  and  ignorance  more 
and  more  prevailed.  The  holy  fcriptures  by  degrees 
were  taken  out  of  the  hands  of  the  laity,  the  better  to 
promote  the  unfcriptural  and  wicked  defigns  of  the 
Pope  and  the  clergy ;  and  inllead  of  promoiing  know- 
ledge among  the  people,  they  induftrioully  promoted 
ignorance.  It  was  a  received  maxim  among  them,  That 
ignorance  is  the  mother  of  devotion  :  and  fo  great  was 
the  darknefs  of  tiroie .  times,  that  learning  was  almoft 
extin6);  in  the  world.  The  very  prieits  themfelves,  moft 
of  them  were  barbaroufly  ignorant  as  to  any  com- 
mendable learning,  or  any  other  knowledge  than  their 
helliih  craft  in  opprefTing  and  tyrannizing  over  the  fouls 
of  the  people.  The  fupe  fiition  and  wickednefs  of  the 
church  of  Rome,  kept  growing  worfe  and  worfe  till 
the  very  time  of  the  reformation  ;  and  the  whole  Chri- 
ftian  world  were  lead  away  into  this  great  defeftion,  ex- 
cepting the  remains  of  the  Chriftian  church  in  the  eaft- 
ern  empire  that  had  not  been  utterly  overthrown  by 
the  Turks,  as  the  Greek  church,  and  fome  others, 
which  were  alfo  funk  into  great  darknefs  and  grofs  fu- 
perftition,  excepting  alfo  thofe  few  that  were  the  peo- 
ple of  God,  Vvdio  are  reprefented  by  the  woman  in  the 
wildernefs,  and  God's  two  witnelfes,  of  which  more 
hereaf-er. 

This  is  one  of  thofe  tw^o  great  kingdoms  which  the 
Devil  in  this  period  erefted  in  oppofition  to  the  king- 
dom of  Chrill  and  was  the  greateft  and  chief.  I  come 
now, 

(2)  To  fpeak  of  the  other,  the  fecond,  which  is  in 
many  refpehs  like  un<o  it.  viz.  his  Mahometan  king- 
dom, which  is  another  great  kingdom  of  mighty  power 
and  vaft  extent,  fet  up  by  Satan,  againft  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift :  he  fet  this  up  in  the  Eaftern  empire,  as  he  did 
that  of  Antichrlll  in  the  Weftern. 

Mahomet  was  born  in  the  year  of  Chr-ft  570,  in  A- 
rabia.  When  he  was  about  forty  years  of  age,  he  be- 
gan to  give  forth  that  he  was  the  great  prophet  of  God, 
;ind  began  to  teach  his  new  invented  religion,  of  which 
lie  was  to  be  worfhippcd  as  the  head  next  under  God. 

Kc 


Part  II.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION. 


3^3 


He  publiflied  his  Alcoran,  which  he  pretended  he  re- 
ceived from  the  Angel  Gabriel ;  and  being  a  fubtle  craf- 
ty man,  and  polIeHed  of  confiderable  weabJi,  and  liv- 
ing among  a  people  who  were  very  ignorant,  and  great- 
ly divided  in  their  opinions  of  religious  matters,  fy  fiib- 
tilty,  and  fair  promifes  of  a  fenfual  paradife,  he  gained 
a  number  to  be  his  followers,  and  fet  up  for  their 
prince,  and  propagated  his  religion  by  the  fword,  and 
made  it  meritorious  of  Paradife  to  fight  for  him.  By 
which  means  his  party  grew,  and  went  on  fighting  till 
they  conquered  and  brought  over  the  neighbouring 
countries ;  and  fo  his  parly  gradually  grew  till  they 
over- ran  a  great  part  of  the  world.  Firft,  the  Saracens, 
who  were  fome  of  his  followers,  and  were  a  people  of 
the  country  of  Arabia,  where  Mahomet  lived,  about 
the  year  700,  began  dreadfully  towaflethe  Roman  em- 
pire. They  over-ran  a  great  many  countries  belonging 
to  the  empire,  and  continued  their  conquefts  for  a  long 
time.  Thefe  are  fuppofcd  to  be  meant  by  the  locufts 
that  we  read  of  in  the  9th  chapter  of  Revelation. 

And  then  after  this  the  Turks,  who  were  originally 
another  people,  different  from  the  Saracens,  but  were 
followers  of  Mahomet,  conquered  all  the  eaflern  em- 
pire. They  began  their  empire  about  the  year  of  Chrifl 
1296,  and  began  to  invade  Europe  about  1300,  and  took 
Conftantinople,  and  fo  became  mailers  of  all  the  eaflern 
empire  in  the  year  1453,  which  is  near  three  hundred 
years  ago.  And  thus  all  thofe  cities  and  countries 
where  were  thofe  famous  churches  of  old,  that  we  read 
of  in  the  New  Teftament,  as  Jerufalem,  Antioch,  E* 
phefus,  Corinth,  &c.  now  all  became  fubjeft  to  the 
Turks.  And  they  took  poffefTion  of  Conftantinople, 
which  was  named  after  Ccnflanline  the  Great,  being 
made  by  him  the  head  city  of  the  Roman  empire, 
whereas  Rome  had  been  till  then.  Thefe  are  fuppofed 
to  be  propheiied  of  by  the  horfemen  in  the  9th  chapter 
of  Revelation,  beginning  with  the  15th  verfe.  And 
the  remains  of  the  ChrifHans  that  are  in  thofe  parts  of 
the  world,  who  are  moflly  of  the  Greek  church,  are 
in  miferable  flavery  under  thefe  Turks,  and  treated  with 
a  great  deal  of  barbarity  and  cruelty,  and  are  become 
moflly  very  ignorant  and  fuperftitious.  - 

Thus  I  have  fhowa  what  great  works  of  Satan  wera 


VTOUgbt 


304  A    HISTORY   OF  Period  IIL 

wrought  during  this  fpace  of  time  in  oppofition  to  the 
kingdom  of  ChrilK 

2.  I  come  now  to  fliow  how  tlie  church  of  Chrift 
was  upheld  through  this  dark  time. And  here, 

(i)  It  is  to  be  obferved,  that  towards  the  former  part 
of  this  fpace  of  time,  fome  of  the  nations  of  Chriilen- 
dom  held  out  a  long  time  before  they  complied  with  the 
corruptions  and  iifarpations  of  the  church  of  Rome. 
Though  all  the  world  wondered  after  the  beaft,  yet  all 
nations  did  not  fall  in  at  once.  Many  of  theprifjcipal 
corruptions  ot  the  church  of  Rome  were  brought  in 
with  a  great  deal  of  ilruggle  and  oppofition  ;  and  parti- 
cularly, when  the  Pope  gave  out,  that  he  was  univerfal 
biihop,  many  churches  greatly  oppofed  him  in  it ;  and 
it  was  a  long  time  before  they  would  yield  to  his  exor- 
bitant claims.  And  fo,  when  the  worihip  of  images  was 
firft  brought  into  the  churches,  there  were  many  who 
greatly  oppofed  it,  and  long  held  out  againft  it.  And 
lb  with  refpecf  to  other  corruptions  of  the  church  of 
Rome.  Thofe  people  that  dwelt  nearer  to  the  city  of 
Rome  complied  fooner,  but  fome  that  were  more  re- 
mote, were  a  long  time  before  they  could  be  induced  to 
put  their  necks  under  the  yoke :  and  particularly  eccle- 
fiaftical  hiilory  gives  an  account,  that  it  ^vas  fo  with 
great  part  6f  the  churches  in  England,  and  Scotland, 
and  France,  who  retained  the  ancient  purity  of  doc- 
trine and  worihip  much  longer  than  any  others  who 
were  nearer  the  chief  feat  of  Antichrift. 

(2)  In  every  age  of  this  dark  time,  there  appeared 
particular  ])erfons  in  all  parts  of  Chriftcndom,  who 
bore  a  tellimonv  againif  the  corruptions  and  tyranny  of 
the  church  of  Rome.  There  is  no  one  age  of  Anti- 
chrift,  even  in  the  darkeft  time  of  all,  but  ecclefiaiii- 
cal  hiUorians  mention  great  many  by  name  who  mani- 
felled  an  abhorrence  of  the  Pope,  and  his  idolatrous 
worihip,  and  pleaded  for  the  ancient  purity  of  do8rine 
and  worihip.  God  was  pleafed  to  maintain  an  uninter- 
rupted fucceilion  of  witnelfes  through  the  whole  time, 
in  Germany,  France,  Britain,  and  other  countries  ;  as 
liiilorians  demonfirate,  and  mention  them  by  name, 
and  give  an  account  of  the  teflimony  which  they  held. 
Many  of  diena  were  private  perfons,  and  many  of  them 
aniniiters,  and  fome  iiia^iltratcs,  and  perfons  of  great 

diflin^uon. 


Part  II.  1.    The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION. 


305 


diftiiiftion.   And  there  were  numbers  in  every  age  who 
y/tre  perfecuted  and  put  to  death  for  this  tcliimony. 

(3)  Befides  thefe  particular  perfons  difpei  fed  here  and 
there,  there  was  a  certain  people,  called  the /^Kz/i/<?^j,  who 
lived  feparate  from  all  the  rcit  of  the  world,  who  kept 
themfelvcs  pure,  and  conllantly  bore  teftimony  againft 
the  church  of  Rome  through  all  this  dark  time.  The 
place  where  they  dwelt  was  the  Vaudois,  or  the  five  val- 
leys of  Piedmont,  a  very  mountainous  country,  be- 
tween Italy  and  France,  llie  place  where  they  lived 
was  compaffed  about  with  thofe  exceeding  high  moun- 
tains called  ike  Alps,  which  were  almolf  impaffable. 
The  paffage  over  thefe  mountainous  defert  countries, 
was  fo  difficult,  that  the  valleys  where  this  people  dwelt 
were  almoU  inacceffible.  There  this  people  lived  for 
many  ages,  as  it  were,  alone,  in  a  ftate  of  feparation 
from  all  the  world,  having  very  little  to  do  with  any 
other  people.  And  there  they  ferved  God  in  the  an- 
cient purity  of  his  worfhip,  and  never  fubmitted  to  the 
church  of  Rome.  This  place  in  this  defert  moun- 
tainous country,  probably  \v^as  the  place  efpecially 
meant  in  the  i2th  chapter  of  Revelation,  6th  verfe,  as 
the  place  prepared  of  God  for  the  woman,  that  they 
Ihould  feed  her  there  during  the  reign  of  Antichrift. 

Some  of  thePopirti  writers  themfelves  own,  that  that 
people  never  fubmitted  to  the  church  of  Rome.  One 
of  the  Popifh  writers,  fpeaking  of  the  Waidenfes,  fays 
The  herefy  of  the  Waidenfes  is  the  oldeft  herefy  in  the 
world.  It  is  fuppofed  that  this  people  firft  betook 
themfelves  to  this  defert  fecret  place  among  the  moun- 
tains, to  hide  themfelves  from  the  feverity  of  the  Hea- 
then perfecutions  which  were  before  Conftantine  the 
Great.  And  thus  the  woman  fled  into  the  \v'ildernefs 
from  the  face  of  the  ferpent.  Rev.  xii.  6.  Andfo  verf.14. 
**  And  to  the  woman  were  given  two  wings  of  a  great 
"  eagle,  that  (he  might  fly  into  the  wildernefs,  into  her 
**  place  :  where  flie  is  nouriflied  for  a  time,  and  times, 
**  and  half  a  time,  from  the  face  of  the  ferpent."  And 
the  people  being  fettled  there,  their  poflerity  continued 
there  from  age  to  age  afterwards :  and  being,  as  it  were, 
by  natural  walls,  as  well  as  by  God's  grace,  feparated 
from  the  reft:  of  the  world,  never  partook  of  the  over- 
flowing corruption. 

N  a  Thefe 


^.)6  A  HISTORY    OF  Period IIL 

Thefe  efpecially  were  thofe  virgins  who  were  not  de- 
filed with  the  rell  of  woiiienj  or  when  other  women 
proililuted  ihemf'elves  and  were  defiled ;  but  they  kept 
themlelves  pure  for  Chrift  alone  :  they  followed  the 
Lamb,  their  fpiritual  hufband,  whitherlbever  he  went : 
they  followed  him  into  this  hideous  wildernefs,    Rev. 

xiv.  4.  5. Their  do6bine  and  their  worfhip,  as 

there  Hill  remain  accounts  of  them,  appear  to  be  the 
fame  with  the  Protellant  doflrine  and  worfhip ;  and  by 
the  confcflion  of  Popilh  writers,  they  were  a  people  re- 
rcarkable  for  the  ftriclnefs  of  their  lives,  for  charity  and 
other  chriUian  virtues.  They  lived  in  external  poverty 
in  this  hideous  country ;  but  they  chpfe  this  rather 
than  to  comply  with  the  great  corruptions  of  the  reft 
of  the  world. 

They  living  in  fo  fecret  a  place,  it  w^as  a  long  time  be- 
fore they  feem  to  have  been  much  taken  notice  of  by 
the  Romanics ;  but  at  laft  falhng  under  obfervation j 
tliey  went  out  in  mighty  armies  againft  them,  and  fell 
upon  them  with  infatiable  cruelty,  barbaroufly  mafia- 
cring  and  putting  to  death,  men,  women,  and  children, 
with  all  imaginable  tortures ;  and  fo  continued  perfe- 
cuting  them  with  but  little  intermiflion,  forfeveral  hun- 
dred years ;  by  which  means  many  of  them  were  driven 
but  of  their  old  habitations  in  the  valleys  of  Piedmont, 
and  fled  into  all  parts  of  Euro|.e,  carrying  with  them 
their  doctrine,  to  which  many  were  brought  over.  So 
their  perfecLitors  could  not,  by  all  their  cruelties,  extir- 
pate the  church  of  God  ;  fo  fulfilling  his  word,  "  that 
*'  the  gates  of  hell  fliould  not  prevail  againft  it." 

(4)  Towards  the  latter  part  of  this  dark  time,  feve- 
ral  noted  divines  openly  appeared  to  defend  the  truth, 
and  bear  teftimony  againft  the  corruptions  of  the 
church  of  Rome,  and  had  many  followers.  The  firft 
and  principal  of  thefe,  was  a  certain  Englifh  divine, 
whofe  name  w-as  John  Wickliff,  who  appealed  about  140 
years  before  the  Reformation,  and  ftrenuoufly  oppofed 
the  Popifh  religion,  and  taught  the  fame  do6irlne  that 
the  Reformers  afterwards  did,  and  had  many  followers 
in  England.  He  was  hotly  perfecuted  in  his  life  time, 
\et  died  in  jfcace;  and  after  he  was  buried,  Ms 
tones  were  dug  up  by  his  perfecutors,  and  burnt.  His 
followers  remained  iu  ccnfidcrable  numbers  in  England 

till 


Part II.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.   307 

till  the  Reformation,  and  were  cruelly  pcrfeciUcd,  an4 
multitudes  put  to  death  for  their  religion. 

Wickliffhad  many  difciples  and  followers,  not  only 
in  England,  but  in  other  parts  of  Europe,  whither  his 
books  were  carried;  and  particularly  in  Bohemia,  a- 
mong  whom  were  two  eminent  divines,  the  name  ofo-ie 
v/2iS  ^okn  Hu/s,  the  other's  name  was  Jerom,  a  divine 
belonging  to  Prague,  the  chief  city  of  Bohemia.  Thefe 
ftrenuouliy  oppofed  the  church  of  Rome,  and  had 
many  who  adhered  to  them.  They  were  both  burnt  by 
the  Papiifs  for  their  doftrine  ;  and  their  followers  in 
Bohemia  were  cruelly  perfecuted,  but  never  extirpated 
till  the  Reformation. 

Thus  having  gone  through  this  dark  time  of  the 
church,  which  is  the  fecond  part  of  the  fpace  from 
Conftantine  the  Great  to  the  deftru61ion  pf  Antichrift, 
I  come  now, 

3^//)',  To  the  third  part,  viz.  that  which  begins  with 
the  Reformation,  and  reaches  to  the  prcfcnt  time. 
And  here  I  would,  1.  Speak  of  the  Reformation  itfelf; 
2.  The  oppofition  which  the  Devil  has  made  to  the  Re- 
formed church;  3.  What  fuccefs  there  has  lately  been 
of  the  gofpel,  in  one  place  and  another ;  4.  What  the 
ftate  of  things  is  now  in  the  world  with  rcQ-ard  to  the 
church  of  Ghrift,  and  the  fuccefs  of  his  purchafe. 

1.  Here  the  firft  thing  to  be  taken  notice  of  is  the 
Reformation.  This  was  begun  about  220  )'ears  ago: 
firft  in  Saxony  in  Germany,  by  the  preaching  of  Mar- 
tin Luther,  who  being  ftirred  in  his  fpirit,  to  fee  the 
horrid  pratlices  of  the  Popifh  clergv,  and  having  fet 
himfelf  diligently  to  enquire  after  truth,  bv  thcfludy  of 
the  holy  fcriptures,  and  the  writings  of  the  ancient  fa- 
thers of  the  church,  very  openly  and  boldly  decried 
the  corruptions  and  ufurpations  of  the  Romilh  church 
in  his  preaching  and  writings,  and  had  foon  a  great 
number  that  fell  in  with  him ;  among  wliom  was  the 
eleftorof  Saxony,  the  fovereign  prince  of  the  country 
to  which  he  belonged.  This  greatl)'  alarmed  the  church 
of  Rome  ;  and  it  did  as  it  were  rally  all  its  force  to  op- 
pofe  him  and  his  do61^rlne,  and  fierce  wars  and  perfecu- 
tions  were  raifed  againil:  it ;  but  yet  it  went  on  by  tire 
labours  of  Luther,  and  Melanclhon  in  Germany,  and: 
Zuinglius  in  Switzerland,  and  other  eminent  divines^ 
N  n  2  V,  li;^,. 


^oB  A    HISTORY    OF  Period  HI. 

yho  were  coternporary  with  Luther,  and  fell  in  with 
him  ;  and  particularly  Calvin,  who  appeared  fomething 
^f'ter  the  beginning  of  the  Reformation,  but  was  one 
pf  the  moll  eminent  Reformers, 

Many  of  the  princes  of  Germany  foon  fell  in  with 
the  Reformed  religion,  and  many  other  flates  and  king- 
doms in  Europe,  as  England,  Scotland,  Sweden,  Den^ 
mark,  Norway,  great  part  of  France,  Poland,  Lithua- 
nia, Switzerland,  and  the  Low  Couritries.  So  that  it  i^ 
thought,  that  heretofore  about  half  Chriftendom  were 
of  the  Proteftant  religion;  though  fince,  the  Papiils 
bave  gained  ground  :  fo  that  the  Proteftants  now  have 
not  fo  great  a  proportion. 

Thus  God  began  glorioufly  to  revive  his  church  a- 
gain,  and  advance  the  kingdom  of  his  Son,  after  fuch^ 
difmal  night  of  darknefs  as  had  not  been  before  from  the 
rife  of  Antichrift  to  that  time.  There  had  been  many 
endeavours  ufed  by  the  witnelfes  for  the  truth,  for  a  Re- 
formation before.  But  now,  when  God's  appointe4 
time  was  come,  his  work  was  begun,  and  went  on  with 
a  fwift  and  wonderful  progrefs ;  and  Antichrift,  who 
had  been  rifmg  higher  and  higher  from  his  very  firft 
beginning  till  that  timp,  was  fwiftly  and  fuddenly 
brought  down,  and  fell  half  way  towards  utter  ruin, 
and  never  has  been  able  to  rife  again  to  his  former  height, 
A  certain  very  late  expofitor(Mr.Lowman)  who  explains 
the  five  firft  vials  in  the  i6th  chapter  of  Revelation, 
with  greater  probability  perhaps  than  any  who  went  be- 
fore him,  explains  the  fifth  vial,  which  was  poured  out 
on  the  feat  ot  the  beaft,  of  what  came  to  pafs  in  the  Re- 
formation ;  explaining  the  four  preceding  vials  of  cer- 
tain great  judgments  of  God  brought  on  the  Popilh  do^ 
minions  before  the  Reformation.  It  is  faid.  Rev.  xvi, 
lo.  that  "  the  fifth  angel  poured  out  his  vial  on  the 
**  feat  of  the  beaft ;"  in  the  original  it  is  the  throne  of 
the  beaji\  "and  his  kingdom  was  full  of  darknefs, 
**  and  they  gnawed  their  tongues  for  pain,  and  blaf- 
"  phemcd  the  God  of  Heaven  becaufe  of  their  pain^ 
"  and  their  fores,  and  repented  not  of  their  deeds."  He 
poured  out  his  vial  upon  the  throne  of  the  beaft,  i.  e, 
oji  the  authority  and  dominion  of  the  Pope  :  fo  the 
word  throne  is  often  ufed  in  fcripture ;  {o  i  Kings  i.  37, 
*'  As  the  Lord  hath  been  with  my  lord  the  king,  eveQ 

"  fo 


Fart II.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    309 

**  fohe  h/2  with  Solomon,  and  make  his  throne  greater 
*♦  than  the  throne  of  my  lord  King  David  ;"  i.e.  make 
his  dominion  and  authority  greater,  and  his  kingdom 
more  glorious. 

But  now,  in  the  Reformation,  the  vials  of  God's 
wrath,  were  poured  out  on  the  throne  of  ihe  bcaft.  His 
throne  was  terribly  Ihaken  and  diminilhed.  The  Pope's 
authority  and  dominion  was  gready  diminillied,  both  as 
to  the  extent  and  degree.  He  loll,  as  was  faid  before, 
about  half  his  dominions.  And  befidcs,  hnce  the  Re- 
formation, the  Pope  has  loft  great  part  of  that  autlio- 
rity,  even  in  the  Popilh  dominions  which  he  had  be- 
fore. He  is  not  regarded,  and  his  power  is  dreaded  in 
no  meafure  as  it  was  wont  to  be.  The  powers  of  Eu- 
rope have  learned  not  to  put  their  necks  under  the 
Pope's  feet,  as  formerly  they  were  wont  to  do.  So  that 
]b,e  is  as  a  lion  that  has  loft  his  teeth,  in  comparifon  of 
\tfhat  he  was  once.  And  when  the  Pope  and  his  clerg)% 
.enraged  to  fee  their  authority  fo  diminilhed  at  the  Re- 
formation, laid  their  heads  together,  and  joined  their 
forces  to  deftroy  the  Reformation ;  tlicir  pohcy,  which 
was  wont  to  ferve  them  fo  well,  failed  ;  and  they  found 
their  kingdom  full  of  darknefs,  fo  that  they  could  do 
nothing,  any  more  than  the  Egyptians,  who  rofe  not 
from  their  feats  for  three  days.  The  Reformed  church 
\ivas  defended  as  Lot  and  the  angels  were  in  Sodom,  by 
fmiting  the  Sodomites  with  darknefs  or  blindnefs,  that 
they  could  not  find  the  door.  God  then  fulfilled  that 
in  Job.  V.  11.  &c.  "  To  fet  up  on  high  thofe  that  be 
**  low  ;  that  thofe  which  mourn  may  be  exalted  to  fafety. 
*'  He  difr^pointeth  the  devices  of  the  crafty,  fo  that 
*'  their  hands  cannot  perform  their  enterprile.  He  ta- 
*'  keth  the  wife  in  their  own  craftinefs  :  and  the  coun- 
**  fel  of  the  froward  is  carried  headlong.  They  meet 
*'  with  darknefs  in  the  day-time,  and  grope  in  the  noon- 
"  day  as  in  tlie  night.  But  he  faveth  the  poor  trom 
**  the  fword,  from  their  mouth,  and  from  the  hand  of 
.**  the  mighty." 

Thofe  proud  enemies  of  God's  people  being  fo  dif- 
iippointed,  and  finding  themfelves  fo  unable  to  uphold 
their  own  dominion  and  authority,  this  made  them  as 
it  were,  to  gnaw  their  tq^igues  for  pain»  or  bite  their 
.tpn^uqs  ior  jjiere  rage. 

2.  I 


3iP 


A   HISTORY   OF  Period  III. 


2.  I  proceed  therefore  to  fhow  what  oppofition  has 
been  made  to  this  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  by  the 
Reformation  by  Satan  and  his  adherents ;  obfervifig,  as 
we  go  alongc,  how  far  they  have  been  baffled,  and  how 
far  they  have  been  fr.ccefsfuL 

The  oppofition  which  Satan  has  made  againft  the 
Refonned  religion  has  been  principally  of  the  following 
kinds,  viz.  that  which  was  made,  i.  by  a  general  coun- 
cil of  the  clmrch  of  Rome;  2.  by  fecret  plots  and  de- 
vices ;  3.  by  open  wars  and  invafions ;  4.  by  cruel  op- 
preffion  and  perfecutio.n ;  and,  5.  by  bringing  in  cor- 
rupt opinions. 

(1)  The  firft  oppofition  that  I  fliall  take  notice  of  is 
ihat  which  was  made  by  the  clergy  of  the  church  of 
Rome  uniting  together  in  a  general  council.  This  was 
the  famous  Council  of  Trent,  w^hich  the  Pope  called  a 
little  while  after  the  Reformation,  in  that  council, 
there  m.et  together  fix  cardinals,  thirty-two  arcbilhops, 
two  hundred  and  twenty-eight  bifhops,  befides  inume- 
rable  others  of  the  Romifh  clergy.  This  council,  in  all 
their  fittings,  including  the  times  of  intermiflion  be- 
tween their  fittings,  was  held  for  twenty-five  years  to- 
gether. Their  main  bufinefs  all  this  while  was  to  con- 
cert meafures  for  eftablifliing  the  church  of  Rome  a- 
gainft  the  Reformers,  and  for  deflroying  the  Reforma- 
tion. But  it  proved  that  they  were  not.able  to  perform 
their  enterprife.  The  Reformed  church,  notwithftand- 
iiig  their  holding  fo  great  a  council,  and  for  fo  long  a 
time -together  againft  it,  remained,  and  remains  ftill. 
So  that  the  counlel  of  the  froward  is  carried  headlong, 
and  their  kingdom  is  full  of  darknefs,  and  they  weary 
themfelves  to  find  the  door. 

Thus  the  church  of  Rome,  inftead  of  repenting  of 
their  deeds,  when  fuch  clear  light  was  held  forth  to 
them  by  Luther  and  other  fervants  of  God,  the  Re- 
formers, does,  by  general  agreement  in  council,  peifift 
in  their  vile  corruptions  and  wickednefs,  and  obftinate 
oppofition  to  the  kingdom  of  Chrift.  The  do8rines 
and  practices  of  the  church  of  Rome^  which  were  chief- 
ly condemned  by  the  Reformed,  were  confirm.edby  the 
decrees  of  their  council  ;  and  the  corruptions  in  many 
refpefls,  were  carried  higher  than  ever  before ;  and 
they  uttered  blafphemous  reproaches  and  curfes  againU 

th?. 


l>art  II.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTIOxM.    311 

the  Reformed  religion,  and  all  the  reformed  church 
was  excommunlcaicd  and  anathematized  by  them  ;  and 
fo,  according  to  the  projjhecy,  *'  they  bla(j)liemcd  God." 
Thus  God  hardened  tlicir  hearts,  intending  10  deftroy 
them. 

(2)  The  Papifts  have  often  endeavoured  to  overthrow 
the  Reformation  by  fecret  plots  and  confpiracies.     So 
there  were  many  plots  againft  the  life  of  Luther.   The 
Papifts  were  engaged  in  contriving  to  difpatchhim,  and 
to  put  him  out  of  their  way ;  and  he  as  he  was  a  very 
bold  man,  often  very  much  expofcd  himfelf  in  thecaufe 
of  Chrift :    but  yet  they  were  wonderfully  prevented 
from   hurting  him,    and  he  at  laft  died  in  his  bed  in 
peace.     And  fo  there  have  been  from  time  to  time  in- 
numerable fchemes  fecretly  laid  for  the  overthrow  of 
the  Proteftant    religion ;    among   which,   that  which 
feems  to  be  moft  confiderable,  and  which  feemed  to  be 
the  moft  likely  to  have  taken  efieft,  was  that  which  was 
m  the  time  of  King  James  II.  of  England,  which  is 
within  the  memory  of  many  of  us.     There  was  at  that 
time  a  ftrong  con  {'piracy  between  the  King  of  England 
and  Lewis  XIV*  of  France,  who  were  both  Papifts,  to 
extirpate  the  Nordiern  herefy,  as  they  called  the  Protef- 
tant religion,  not  only  out  of  England,  but  out  of  all 
Europe;  and  had  laid  their  fchemes  fo,  that  they  feem- 
ed, to  be  almoft  fure  of  their  purpofe.     They  looked 
upon  it,  that  if  the  Reformed  religion  were  fupprelTed 
in  the  Britifli  realms,  and  in  the   Netherlands,  which 
were  the  ftrongeft  part,  and  chief  defence  of  the  Pro- 
teftant intereft,  they  fhould   have  eafy  work  with  the 
reft.     And  juft  as  their  matters  feemed  to  be  come  to  a 
head,  and  their  enterprife  ripe  for  execution,  God,  in 
his  providence,    fuddenly  daftied  all  their  fchemes  in 
pieces  by  the  Revolution,  at  the  coming  in  of  King 
William  and  Queen  Mary;  by  v;hich  all  their  defignS 
were  at  an  end  ;  and   the  Proteftant  intereft   was  more 
ilrongly  eftabliihed,  by  the  crown  of  England's   bemg 
eilablilhed  in  the  Proteftant  houfe  of  Hanover,  and  a 
Papift  being,  by  the  conftitution  of  the  nation,  for  ever 
rendered  incapable  of  wearing  the  crown  of  England. 
Thus  they  groped  in  darknefs  at  noon-day  as  in  the 
night,  aiid  their  hands  ccuJd  not  perform  their  cnter- 

priie,. 


312  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  III. 

prlfe,  and  their  kmgdom  was  fuH  oidarkftefs,  and  they 
gnawed  their  torigues  for  pain. 

Aiter  this,  there  was  a  deep  defign  laid  to  bring  the 
fame  thing  to  pal's  in  the  latter  end  of  Queen  Anne's 
reign,  by  the  bringing  in  of  the  Popifh  pretender ; 
which  was  no  lefs  fuddenly  and  totally  baffled  by  divine 
providence  ;  as  the  plots  againft  the  Reformation,  by 
bringing  in  the  Pretender,  have  been  from  time  ta 
time. 

(3)  The  Reformation  has  often  been  oppofed  by  o- 
pen  wars  and  invafions.  So  in  the  beginning  of  the 
Reformation,  the  Emperor  of  Gennany,  to  fupprefs 
the  Reformation,  de-^lared  war  with  the  Duke  of  Sax- 
ony,  and  the  principal  men  who  favoured  and  receiv- 
ed Luther's  doctrine.  FfUt  they  could  not  obtain  their 
end  ;  they  could  not  fupprefs  the  Reform.ation.  For 
the  fame  end,  the  king  of  Spain  maintained  a  long  war 
with  Holland  and  the  Low  Countries  in  the  century  be- 
fore laft.  But  thofe  cruel  wars  iflbed  greatly  to  the 
difadvantage  of  the  Romifh  church,  as  they  occafioncd 
the  fetting  up  of  one  of  the  mofl  powerful  Proteflant 
ftates  in  Europe,  which,  next  to  Great-Britain,  is  the 
chief  barrier  of  the  Proteftant  religion.  And  the  de- 
fign of  the  Spanifh  invafion  of  England  in  Queen  Eli-f 
zabeth's  time,  was  to  fupprefs  and  root  out  the  Reform- 
ed religion  ;  and  therefore  they  brought  in  their  fleet 
all  manner  of  inftruments  of  cruelty  w^herewith  to'tor^ 
ture  die  Proteftants  who  would  not  renounce  the  Pro-* 
teftant  religion.  But  their  defign  w^as  totally  bafFied, 
and  their  mighty  fleet  in  a  great  micafure  ruined. 

(4)  Satan  has  oppofed  the  Reformation  with  cruel 
perfecutions.  The  perfecutions  with  which  the  Protef- 
tants in  one  kingdom  and  another  have  been  pcrfccut- 
ed  by  the  church  of  Rome,  have  in  manyrefpefls  hc.<:n 
idtr  beyond  any  of  the  Heathen  perfecutions  which 
■were  before  Conffantine  the  Great,  and  beyond  ail  th.it 
ever  were  before.  So  that  Antichrift  has  proved  the 
greatelt  and  crueleft  enemy  to  the  church  of  Chrilltliat 
ever  was  in  the  world,  in  thif,  as  well  as  in  all  other  le- 
fpeRs  ;  agreeable  to  the  defcription  given  of  the  church 
of  Rome,  Rev.  xvii.  6.  "  And  I  faw  the  woman  drunk* 
•*  en  with  the  blood  of  the  fctints,  and  with  the  blood 
**  of  the  martyrs  of  Jcfus."     And,  chap,  xviii.  24* 

*'  And 


?artll.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     313 

•'  And  on  her  was  found  the  blood  of  prophets,  and 
"  of  faints,  and  of  all  them  that  were  llain  upon  the 
"  earth." 

The  Heathen  perfecutlons  had  been  very  dreadftd : 
hut  now  perfecution  by  tlie  church  of  Rome  was  im- 
proved, and  fludie*!,  and  cultivated,  as  an  art  or 
fcience.  Such  ways  of  afflicting  and  tormenting  were 
found  out,  as  are  beyond  the  thought  and  invention  of 
ordinary  men,  or  men  who  are  unftudied  in  thofe 
things  and  beyond  the  invention  of  all  former  ages. 
And  that  perfecution  might  be  managed  the  more  ef- 
feftually,  there  were  certain  focieties  of  meneflablifhed 
in  various  parts  of  the  Popifh  dominions,  whofc  bufi- 
nefs  it  fliould  be  to  ftudy,  and  improve,  and  pra^Hfe 
perfecution  in  its  highelt  perfeftion,  which  are  thofe 
focieties  called  the  courts  of  inquifition.  A  reading  of 
the  particular  hiflories  of  the  Romifh  perfecution,  and 
their  courts  of  inquifition,  will  give  that  idea  which  a. 
few  words  cannot  exprefs. 

When  the  Reformation  began,  the  beafi:  with  feven 
heads  and  ten  horns  began  to  rage  in  a  dreadful  man- 
ner. After  the  Reformation,  the  church  of  Rome  re- 
newed its  perfecution  of  the  poor  Waldenfes,  and  great 
multitudes  of  them  were  cruelly  tortured  and  put  to 
death.  Soon  after  the  Reformation,  there  were  terrible 
perfections  in  various  parts  of  Germany  ;  and  efpeci- 
ally  in  Bohemia,  which  lafted  for  thirty  years  together ; 
in  w^hich  fo  much  blood  was  fhed  for  the  fake  of  reli- 
gion, that  a  certain  writer  compares  it  to  the  plenty  of 
waters  of  the  great  rivers  of  Germany.  The  countries 
of  Poland,  Lithuani,  and  Hungary,  were  in  like  man-, 
ner  deluged  with  Proteftant  blood. 

By  means  of  thefe  and  other  cruel  pcrfecutions,  the 
Proteftant  religion  was  in  a  great  meafuie  fuppreffed  ii> 
Bohemia,  and  the  Palatinate,  and  Hungary,  which  be- 
fore were  as  it  were  Proteftant  countries.  Thus  was 
fulfilled  what  was  foretold  of  the  little  horn,  Dan, 
vii.  20.  21.  *' — and  of  the  ten  horns  that  were  in  his 
*'  head,  and  of  the  other  which  came  up,  and  before 
**  whom  three  fell,  even  of  that  horn  that  had  eyes, 
**  and  a»  mouth  that  fpake  very  great  things,  whofe 
•*  look  was  more  ftout  than  his  fellows.  I  beheld,  and 
**  the  fame  hoFn  made  war  with  the  faints,  and  prevail- 
O  0  *•  ed 


814  A  HISTORY  of  Period IlL 

*'  cd  againft  them."  And  what  was  foretold  of  i\\6 
beafl  having  feven  heads  and  ten  horns^  Rev.  xiii.  7. 
*'  And  it  was  given  i.nto  him  to  make  war  with  th6 
*'  faints,  and  to  overcome  them  ;  and  power  was  given 
*'  him  over  all  kindreds,  and  tongues,  and  nations." 
Alio  Holland  and  the  other  Low  Countries  were  for 
many  years  a  fcene  of  nothing  but  the  moft  afPefting 
and  amazing  cruelties,  being  deluged  with  the  blood  of 
Protcftants,  under  the  mercilefs  hands  of  the  Spani-^ 
ards,  to  vrhom  they  were  then  in  fubje6lion.  But  in 
this  perfecution  the  Devil  in  a  great  m.eafure  failed  of 
his  purpofe;  as  it  iffued  in  a  great  part  of  the  Nether- 
lands calling  off  the  Spanilh  yoke,  and  fetting  up  a 
wealthy  and  powerful  Proteftant  ftate,  to  the  great  de- 
fence of  the  Proteftant  caufe  ever  fmce. 

France  alfo  is  another  country,  which,  fmce  the  Re- 
formation, in  fome  refpecrs,  perhaps  more  than  any  o- 
ther,  has  been  a  fcene  of  dreadful  CRielties  fuffered  by 
the  Proteflants  there.  After  many  cruelties  had  been 
exercifed  towards  the  Proteflants  in  that  kingdom, 
there  was  begun  a  perfecution  of  them  in  the  year  1571, 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  IX.  King  of  France.  It  began 
"vvith  a  cruel  maffacre,  wherein  70,000  Proteflants  w^ere 
flain  in  a  few  days  time,  as  the  King  boafled  :  and  in 
all  this  perfecution,  he  flew,  as  is  fuppofed  300,000 
martyrs.  And  it  is  reckoned,  that  about  this  time, 
within  thirty  years,  there  were  mart)Ted  in  this  king- 
dom, for  the  Proteflant  religion,  39  princes,  148 
counts,  234  barons,  147,^18  gentlemen,  and  760,000 
of  the  common  people.-h 

But  all  thefe  perlecutions  were,  for  cxquifite  cruel- 
ty, far  exceeded  by  thofe  which  followed  in  the  reign 
of  Lewis  XIV.  which  indeed  are  fuppofed  to  exceed  all 
others  that  evej  had  been  ;  and  being  long  continued,  by 
reafon  of  the  long  reign  of  that  king,  almoft  wholly 
extirpated  the  Proteflant  religion  out  of  that  kingdom, 
•where  had  been  before  a  multitude  of  famous  Proteflant 
churches  all  over  the  kingdom.  Thus  it  was  given  to 
the  bcafl  to  make  war  with  the  faints,  and  to  overcome 
them. 

There  was  alfo  a  terrible  perfecution  in  England  in 
Queen  Mary's  time,  wherein  great  numbers  in  all  parts 
of  the  kingdom  were  burnt  alive.     And  after  this, 

though 


f'/'/^/ 


P^rtll.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     215 

though  the  Proteftant  religion  has  been  for  tlie  niofl: 
part  eflabhfhed  by  law  in  England,  yet  there  have  been 
very  fevere  perfecutions  by  the  Ingh-church  men,  who 
fymbolize  in  many  things  with  the  Papiils.  SilcIi  aper- 
fecution  was  that  which  occalioned  our  forefadiers  to  flee 
from  their  native  country,  and  to  come  and  fettle  in  this 
Jand,  which  was  then  a  hideous  howling  wildernefs. 
And  thefe  perfecutions  were  continued  with  little  intcr- 
mifhon  till  King  William  came  to  the  throne. 

Scotland  has  alfo  been  the  fcene  for  many  years  to- 
gether, of  cruelties  and  blood  by  the  hands  of  high- 
church  men,  fuch  as  came  very  little  fhprt  of  the  Po- 
pilh  perfecution  in  Queen  Mary's  days,  and  in  many 
things  much  exceeded  it,  which  continued  till  they  were 
delivered  by  King  William. 

Ireland  alfo  has  been  as  it  were  overwhelmed  with 
Protellant  blood.  In  the  days  of  King  Charles  I.  of 
England,  above  200,000  Proteftants  were  cruelly  mur- 
dered in  that  kingdom  in  a  few  days ;  the  Papiiis,  by  a 
fecret  agreement,  rifingall  aver  the  kingdom  at  an  ap- 
pointed time,  intending  to  kill  every  Protellant  in  the 
kingdom  at  once. 

Befides  thefe,  there  have  been  very  cniel  perfecutions, 
in  Italy  and  Spain,  and  other  places,  which.  I  fliall  not 
Itand  to  relate. 

Thus  did  the  Devil,  and  his  great  miniller  Antichrift^ 
rage  with  fuch  violence  and  cruelty  againft  the  church 
of  Chrill !  and  thus  did  the  whore  of  Babylon  make- 
herfelf  drunk  with  the  blood  of  the  faints  and  martyrs 
of  Jefus !  and  thus,  by  thefe  perfecutions,  the  Protef- 
tant  church  has  been  much  diminifhed!  Yet  with  all 
have  they  not  been  able  to  prevail ;  but  flill  theProtef- 
tant  church  is  upheld,  and  Chrill  fulfils  his  promife, 
that  "  the  gates  of  hell  fhall  not  prevail  againll  his 
"  church." 

(5)  The  laft  kind  of  oppofitioa  that  Sa'ian  has  made 
to  the  Reformation  is  by  corrupt  opinions.  Satan  hati 
oppofed  the  light  of  the  gofpel  which  {hone  forth  in, 
the  Reformation,  with  many  corrupt  opinions,  which 
he  has  brought  in  and  propagated  in  the  world. 

And  here,  in   the  firll  place,  the  firll   oppolition  o^ 
this  kind  was  by  raifing  up  the  fe6t  of  the  Anai);:ptffrs> 
:\vhich  began  about  four  or  five  years  ai^er  the  Kefornt- 
O  o  2  atioii 


3i6  A  HISTORY  OF  Perlodlll. 

ation  itfelf  began.  This  feft,  as  it  firft  appeared  in 
Germany,  were  vaftly  more  extravagant  than  the  pre- 
fent  Anabaptifts  are  in  England.  They  held  a  great 
many  exceeding  corrupt  opinions.  One  tenet  of  theirs 
was,  That  there  ought  to  be  no  civil  authority,  and  fo 
that  it  was  lawful  to  rebel  againft  civil  authority.  And 
on  this  principle,  they  refufed  to  fubmit  to  magifi rates, 
or  any  human  laws  ;  and  gathered  together  in  vaft  ar- 
mies, to  defend  themfelves  againft  their  civil  rulers,  and 
put  all  Germany  into  an  uproar,  and  fo  kept  it  for 
forne  time. 

The  next  oppofition  of  this  kind  to  the  Reformation 
was  that  which  was  made  by  enthufiafts.  7  hofe  are 
called  enthufiafts  who  falfely  pretend  to  be  infpired  by 
the  Holy  Ghoft  as  the  prophets  were.  Thefe  began  in 
Germany  about  ten  years  after  Luther  began  the  Refor- 
mation ;  and  there  arofe  various  fefls  of  them  who 
were  exceeding  wild  and  extravagant.  The  followers 
of  thefe  are  the  Quakers  in  England,  and  other  parts 
of  the  Britifh  dominions. 

The  next  to  thefe  were  the  Spcinians,  who  had  their 
beginning  chiefly  in  Poland,  by  the  teaching  of  two 
men  ;  the  name  of  the  one  was  Lctlius  Soanus,  of  the 
other  Faujlus  Socinus.  They  held,  that  Chrifl:  was  a 
mere  man,  and  denied  Chrift's  fatisfa6"tion,  and  mofl;  of 
the  fundamental  doftriness  of  the  Chriftian  religion. 
Their  herefy  has  fince  been  greatly  propagated  among 
Proteftants  in  Poland,  Germany,  Hplland,  England, 
and  other  places. 

After  thefe  arofe  the  Arminians.  Thefe  firft  appear- 
ed in  Holland  about  130  years  ago.  They  take  their 
iiajne  from  a  Dutchman,  whofe  name  was  Jacobus 
Van  Harmin,  which,  turned  into  Latin,  is  called  Jaco- 
bus Arminius;  and  fiom  his  name  the  whole  feft  are 
called  Armimaiis.  This  Jacobus  Arminius  was  firft  a  mi- 
nifter  at  Amfterdam,  and  then  a  pofeffor  of  divinity  in 
the  univerfity  of  Leyden.  He  had  many  followers  in 
Holland.  There  was  upon  this  a  fynod  of  all  the  Re- 
formed churches  called  together,  who  met  at  Dort  in 
Holland.  The  fynod  of  Dort  condemned  them  ;  but 
yet  thev  fpread  and  prevailed.  They  began  to  prevail 
jn«Enr;land  in  the  reign  of  Charles  L  efpecially  in  the 
church  of  England.     The  church  of  England  divines 

before 


Part  11.  i.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     017 

before  that  were  almofl  univerrally  Calvinifls ;  but  fmoe 
that,  Arminianifm  has  gradually  more  and  more  pre- 
vailed, till  they  are  become  almoft  univerfallv  Arnii- 
nians.  And  not  only  fo,  but  Arminianifm  has  greatly 
prevailed  among  the  Dilfentcrs,  and  has  fpread  greatly 
in  New-Encjland,  as  well  as  Old. 

Since  this,  Arianifm  has  been  revived.  As  I  told 
you  before,  Arianifm.,  a  little  after  Conflantine'stime, 
almoft  fwallowed  up  the  Chritlian  world,  like  a  flood 
out  of  the  mouth  of  the  ferpent  which  tjireatencd  to 
fwallow  up  the  woman.  And  of  late  years,  this  herefy 
has  been  revived  in  Enprland,  and  greatly  prevails  there, 
both  in  the  church  of  England,  and  among  Dilfentcrs, 
Thefe  hold,  that  Chriftis  but  a  mere  creature,  though 
thev  grant  that  he  is  the  greateft  of  all  creatures. 

Again,  another  thing  which  has  of  late  exceedingly 
prevailed  among  Proteftants,  and  efpecially  in  England, 
is  Deifra.  The  Deills  wholly  calt  off  the  Chriftian  re- 
ligion, and  are  profelfed  infidels.  They  are  not  hke 
the  Heretics,  Arians,  Socinians,  and  others  who  own 
the  fcriptures  to  be  the  word  of  God,  and  hold  tli^ 
Chriftian  religion  to  be  the  true  religion,  but  only  deny 
thefe  and  thefe  fundamental  doftrines  of  the  Chriftian 
rehgion:  They  deny  the  whole  Chriffian  religion.  In- 
deed they  own  the  being  of  God  ;  but  deny  that  Chrill 
was  the  Son  of  God,  and  fay  he  was  a  mere  cheat;  and 
fo  they  fay  all  (he  prophets  and  apoftles  were  :  and  they 
deny  the  whole  fcripture.  They  deny  that  any  of  it  is 
the  word  of  God.  They  deny  any  revealed  religion, 
or  any  word  of  God  at  all ;  and  fay,  that  God  has  gi- 
ven mankind  no  other  light  to  walk  by  but  their  own 
reafon.  Thefe  fcntiments  and  opinions  our  nation, 
which  is  the  principal  nation  of  the  Reformation,  is 
very  much  over-run  with,  and  they  prevail  more  aud 
more. 

Thus  much  concerning  the  oppofition  that  Satan  has 
made  c,gainft  the  Reformation. 

(3)  I  proceed  now  to  fhow  what  fucccfs  the  gofjx?! 
has  more  lately  had,  or  what  fuccefs  it  has  had  in  thefe 
hier  times  of  the  Reformed  church.  This  fuccefs  may 
be  reduced  to  thefe  three  heads  :  1.  Reformation  in 
^ofirine  and  worlhip  in  countries  called  Chriftian;  2, 
^  Fiopiigatiofi 


3i8  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  III, 

Propagation  of  the  gofpel  among  the  Heathen  ;  3.  Re- 
yival  of  religion  in  the  power   and  practice  of  it. 

(1)  As  to  ihefirll,  viz.  Reformation  in  dottrine,  the 
moft  confiderable  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  that  has  been 
of  late  of  this  kind,  has  been  in  the  empire  of  Muf- 
covy,  which  is  a  country  of  vaft  extent.  The  people 
of  this  country,  fo  many  of  them  as  called  themTelves 
Chriftians,  profeffed  to  be  of  the  Greek  church ;  but 
were  barbaroufly  ignorant,  and  very  fuperllitious,  till 
of  late  years.  Their  late  Emperpr  Peter  the  Great 
who  reigned  till  within  thefe  twenty  year$,  fet  himfclf 
to  reform  the  people  of  his  dominions,  and  took  great 
pains  to  bring  them  out  of  their  darknefs,  and  to  have 
ihem  in(lru6ted  in  religion.  And  to  that  end,  he  fet 
lip  fchools  of  learning,  and  ordered  the  Bible  to  be 
printed  m  the  language  of  the  country,  and  made  a  law 
that  every  family  fhoidd  keep  the  holy  fcriptures  in 
their  houfes,  and  that  every  perfon  fliould  be  able  to 
read  the  fame,  and  that  no  perfon  fhould  be  allowed 
to  marry  till  they  were  able  to  read  the  fcriptures.  He 
alfo  reformed  the  churche{>  of  his  country  of  many  of 
their  fuperftitions,  whereby  the  rehgion  profeffed  and 
praclifed  in  Mufcovy  is  much  nearer  to  that  of  the  Pro- 
tefiants  tiian  formerly  it  ufed  to  be.  This  emperor 
gave  great  encouragement  to  the  exercife  of  the  Protef^ 
tant  religion  in  his  dominions.  And  fmce  that  Muf- 
covy is  become  a  land  of  light,  in  comparifon  of  what 
it  was  before.  Wonderful  alterations  have  beeii 
brought  about  in  the  face  of  religion  for  the  better  with- 
in thefe  fifty  years  palh 

(2)  As  to  the  fecond  kind  of  fuccefs  which  the  gof- 
pel has  lately  had,  viz.  its  propagation  among  the  Hea- 
then,  I  would  take  notice  of  three  things, 

.  [ij  The  propagation  there  has  been  of  the  gofpel 
among  the  Heathen  here  in  America.  This  American 
continent  on  ^vhich  we  live,  which  is  a  very  great  part 
of  the  world,  and,  together  with  its  neighbouring  feas 
adjoining,  takes  up  one  fide  of  the  globe,  was  wholly 
unknown  to  all  Chriftian  nations  till  thefe  latter  times. 
It  was  not  known  that. there  was  any  fuch  part  of  the 
world,  though  it  was  very  full  of  people  :  and  there- 
fore here  the  Devil  had  the  people  that  inhabited  this 
part  of  the  world  as  it  were  fccure  to  himfclf,  out  cj 
/  "  the 


Part  II.  1.   The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.     319 

the  reach  of  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  and  fo  out  of  tlic 
way  of  molellation  in  his  doiiiinioii  over  thcni.  And 
here  the  many  nations  of  Indians  worfhipped  him  as 
God  from  age  to  age,  while  the  goi'pel  was  confined 
to  the  oppofite  fide  of  the  globe.  It  is  a  thing  which, 
if  I  remember  right,  I  have  fome  where  lit  of,  as  pro- 
bably fuppofed  from  fome  remaining  acconnts  of 
things,  that  the  occafion  of  the  firll  peopling  America 
was  this,  that  the  Devil  being  alarmed  and  furprifed 
by  the  wonderful  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  which  there 
was  the  firft  three  hundred  years  after  Chrift,  and  by 
the  downfal  of  the  Heathen  empire  in  the  time  of  Cou- 
ftantine  ;  and  feeing  the  gofpel  fpread  fo  faft,  and  fear- 
ing that  his  Heathenifh  kingdom  would  be  wholly  over- 
thrown through  the  world,  led  away  a  people  from  the 
other  continent  into  America,  that  they  might  be  quite 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  gofpel,  that  here  he  might  qui- 
etly pofTefs  them,  and  reign  over  them  as  their  god. 
It  is  what  many  writers  give  an  account  of,  that  fome 
of  the  nations  of  Indians,  when  the  Eurojjeans  firit 
came  into  America,  had  a  tradition  among  them,  that 
their  god  firft  led  them  into  this  continent,  and  went 
before  them  in  an  ark. 

Whether  this  wasfo  or  not,  yet  it  is  certain  thjtthe 
Devil  did  here  quietly  enjoy  his  dominion  over  the  poor 
nahons  of  Indians  for  many  ages.  But  in  later  times 
God  has  fent  the  gofpel  into  thefe  parts  of  the  world, 
and  now  the  Chriftian  church  is  fet  up  here  in  New- 
England,  and  in  other  parts  of  America,  where  before 
had  been  nothing  but  the  grofieft  Heathenilh  darknefs. 
Great  part  of  America  is  now  full  of  Bibles,  and  full 
of  at  leaft  the  form  of  the  worfliip  of  the  true  God  and 
Jefus  Chrill:,  where  the  name  of  Chrift  before  had  not 
been  heard  of  for  many  ages,  if  at  ail.  And  though 
there  has  been  but  a  fmall  propagation  of  the  gofpel 
among  the  Heathen  here,  in  comparifon  of  what  were 
to  be  wifhed  for  ;  yet  there  has  been  lomething  worthy 
to  be  taken  notice  of.  There  was  fomething  remark- 
able in  the  firft  times  of  New-England,  and  fomething 
remarkable  has  appeared  of  late  here,  and  in  other 
parts  of  America  among  many  Indians,  of  an  inclin>i- 
tion  to  be  inftru6fed  in  the  Cliriftian  religion. 

And   hov/ever   fmall  the  propaj^ation  of  the  gofpel 

among 


320  AHISTORYoF  Period  III. 

ati^ong  the  Heathen  here  in  America  has  been  hithcrio, 
yet  1  think,  we  may  well  look  upon  the  difcoverv  of  fo 
great  a  part  of  the  world  as  America,  and  bringing  the 
gofpel  into  it,  si*  oiie  thing  by  which  divine  providence 
is  preparing  the  way  for  the  future  glorious  times  of 
the  church;  when  Satan's  kingdom  h»ali  be  overthrown, 
KOt  only  throughout  the  Roman  empire,  but  through- 
out the  whole  habitable  globe,  on  every  fide,  and  on  all 
its  continents.  When  thofe  times  come,  then  doubtlefs 
the  gofpeU  whi<:h  is  already  brought  over  into  Ameri- 
ca, ihall  have  glorious  fuccefs,  and  all  the  inhabitants 
©.f  this  nevv-difcovered  world  fhall  become  fubjeBs  of  the 
kingdom  of  Chrifl,  as  well  as  all  the  other  ends  of  the 
earth  :  and  in  ail  probability  providence  has  fo  ordered 
it,  that  the  mariner's  compafs,  which  is  an  invention  of 
later  times,  wdiereby  men  are  enabled  to  fail  over  tlie 
wideft  ocean,  when  before  they  diu-ft  not  venture  far 
from  land ;  fhould  prove  a  preparation  for  what  God 
intends  to  bring  to  pafs  in  the  glorious  times  of  the 
church,  viz.  the  fending  forth  the  gofpel  wherever  any 
of  the  children  of  men  dwell,  how  far  foever  off,  and 
however  feparated  by  wide  oceans  from  thofe  parts  o£ 
the  world  which  are  already  Chriilianized. 

[2]  There  has  of  late  years  been  a  veiy  confiderable 
propagation  of  the  gofpel  among  the  Heathen  in  the  do- 
minions of  Mufcovy.  I  have  already  obferved  the  refor- 
luation  which  there  has  lately  been  among  thofe  who 
are  called  ChriJHans  there  :  but  I  no\v  fpeak  of  the 
Heathen.  Great  part  of  the  vaft  dominions  of  the 
Emperor  of  Mufcovy  are  grofs  Heathens.  T  he  greater 
part  of  Great  Tartary,  a  Heathen  country,  has  in  la- 
ter times  been  brought  under  the  Mufcovite  govern- 
ment ;  and  there  have  been  of  late  great  numbers  of 
tlioi'e  Heathen  who  have  renounced  their  Heathenifm 
and  have  embraced  the  Chriftian  religion. 

[3]  There  has  been  lately  a  very  confiderable  propa- 
gation of  the  Chrillian  rehgion  among  the  Heathen  in 
the  Eall-Indies  ;  particularly,  many  in  a  countr)^  in  the 
Eaft-Indies  called  Malabar,  have  been  brought  over  to 
die  Chriitian  Proteftant  religion,  chieHy  by  the  labours 
«jf  certain  mifiionaries  fent  diither  to  inllrucf  them  by 
the^  King  of  Denmark,  who  have  brought  over  many 

Heathens 


Part  II.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    321 

Heathens  to  the  Chriflian  faith,  and  have  fetnp  fcliools 
among  them,  and  a  printing-prcfs  to  print  Bibles  and 
other  books  lor  their  inlhudion,  in  their  own  lanr-uaeTc, 
with  fneat  fuccefs. 

o 

(3)  The  lall  kind  of  fiiccefs  which  there  has  lately 
been  of  the  gofpel,  which  I  Ihall  take  notice  of,  is  the 
revivals  of  the  power  and  pratHce  of  religion  which 
have  lately  been.  And  here  I  Ihall  take  notice  of  but 
two  inftanccs. 

[1]  There  has  not  long  fmce  been  a  remarkable  re- 
vival of  the  power  and  practice  of  religion  in  Saxony 
in  Germany,  through  the  endeavours  of  an  einincnt 
divine  there,  whofe  name  was  /lugiijl  Herman  ¥ranh, 
profelfor  of  divinity  at  Hall  in  Saxony,  who  being  a 
perlon  of  eminent  charity,  the  great  work  that  God 
wrought  by  him,  began  with  his  fetting  on  foot  a  chari- 
table dcfign.  It  began  only  with  his  placing  an  alms- 
box  at  his  ftudy-door,  into  which  fome  poor  mites  were 
thrown,  whereby  books  were  bought  for  the  infl ruc- 
tion of  the  poor.  And  God  w^as  pleafed  fo  wonderful- 
ly to  fmilc  on  his  defign,  and  fo  to  pour  out  a  fpirit  of 
charity  on  people  thereon  that  occafion,  that  with  their 
charity  he  was  enabled  in  a  little  time  to  ere61  public 
fchools  fortheinftruftion  of  poor  children,  and  an  or- 
phan-houfe  for  the  fupply  and  inflru^tion  of  the  poor; 
fo  that  at  laft  it  came  to  that,  that  near  five  hundred 
children  were  maintained  andinHrutled  in  learnuigand 
piety  by  the  chanty  of  others ;  and  the  number  conti- 
nued to  increafe  more  and  more  for  many  years,  nud 
till  the  laft  account  I  have  {^zn.  This  was  accompanii  d 
with  a  wonderful  reformation  and  revival  of  religion, 
Tcci^  a  fpirit  of  piety,  in  the  city  andunivcrfity  of  Hal!; 
and  thus  it  continued.  Which  alfo  had  threat  influence 
in  many  other  places  in  Germany.  Their  example 
ieemed  remarkably  to  ftir  up  inultitudes  to  their  imi- 
tation. 

[2]  Another  thing,  which  it  would  be  uu^jp-atcfiil  in 
vis  not  to  take  notice  of,  is  that  rcmarkahle  pouring  out^ 
of  the  Spirit  of  God^vhich  has  been  of  late  in  this  part 
ot  New-England,  of  which  \v'e,  in  this  town/have  had 
fuch  a  fljare.  But  it  is  needlefs  for  mepariiculavly  to 
defcribe  it,  it  being  what  vou  have  fo  lately  been  eye- 
P  i>  witnelfcs- 


322  A  HISTORY   of  Period IIL 

witnefles  to,  and  I  hope  multitudes  of  you  fenfible  of 
the  benefit  of. 

Thus  I  have  mentioned  the  more  remarkable  in- 
ftances  of  the  fuccefs  which  the  gofpel  has  lately  had 
in  the  world. 

4.1  proceed  now  to  the  laft  thing  that  was  propofed 
to  be  confidered  relating  to  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  re- 
demption during  this  fpace,  viz.  what  the  ftate  of  things 
is  now  in  the  world  with  regard  to  the  church  of  Chrili:, 
and  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe.  And  this  I  would 
do,  by  fhowing  how  things  are  now  compared  with  the 
firft  times  of  the  reformation.  And,  1.  I  would  fhow 
wherein  the  ftate  of  things  is  altered  for  the  worfe  ; 
and,  2.  How  it  is  altered  for  the  better. 

(1)  I  would  fhow  wherein  the  ftate  of  thi-ngs  is  al- 
tered from  what  it  was  in  the  beginning  of  the  Reforma- 
tion, for  the  worfe  ;  and  it  is  fo  efpecially  in  thefe  three 
Tefpecls. 

[1]  The  reformed  church  is  much  diminiftied.  The 
Reformation  in  the  former  times  of  it,  as  was  obferved 
before,  was  fuppofed  to  take  place  through  one  half  o£ 
Chriftendom,  excepting  the  Greek  church ;  or  that 
there  were  as  many  Proteftants  as  Papifts.  But  now  it 
is  not  fo  ;  the  Proteftant  church  is  much  diminiftied. 
Heretofore  there  have  been  multitudes  of  Proteftants  in 
France ;  many  famous  Proteftant  churches  were  all 
over  that  country,  who  ufed  to  meet  together  in  fynods, 
and  maintain  a  very  regular  difcipline ;  and  great  part 

of  that  kingdom  were  Proteftants. The  Proteftant 

church  of  France  was  a  great  part  of  the  glory  of  the 
Reformation.  But  now  it  is  far  otherwife  :  this  church 
is  all  broken  to  pieces  and  fcattered.  The  Proteftant 
religion  is  almoft  wholly  rooted  out  of  that  kingdom 
by  the  cruel  perfecutions  which  have  been  there,  and 
there  are  now  but  very  few  Proteftant  aflemblies  in 
all  that  kingdom.  The  Proteftant  intereft  is  alfo  great- 
ly diminilhed  in  Germany.  There  were  feveral  fove- 
reign  princes  there  formerly  who  were  Proteftants, 
whofe  fucceffors  are  now  Papifts;  as,  particularly,  the 
Eleftor  Palatine,  and  the  Ele6f  or  of  Saxony.  The  king- 
dom of  Bohemia  was  formerly  a  Protejflant  kingdom, 
but  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Papifts  :  and  fo  Hun- 
gary was  formerly  a  Proteftant  country  ;  but  the  Pro- 
teftants 


fart II.  1.     The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.   323 

teftants  there  have  been  greatly  reduced,  and  in  a  great 
meafure  fubdued,  by  the  peifecutions  that  have  been 
there.  And  the  Protellant  iniercft  has  no  way  re- 
markably gained  ground  of  late  of  the  church  of 
^ome. 

[2J  Another  thing  wherein  the  ftate  of  things  is  al- 
tered for  the  worfe  from  what  was  in  the  former  times 
of  the  Reformation,  is  the  prevailing  of  licentioufnefs 
in  principles  and  opinions.  There  is  not  now  that  fpi- 
rit  of  orthodoxy  which  there  was  then :  there  is  very 
Jittle  appearance  of  zeal  for  themyfterious  and  fpiritual 
<lo6lrines  of  Chriflianity ;  and  they  never  were  fo  ri- 
diculed, and  had  in  contempt,  as  they  are  in  the  prefent 
age  ;  and  efpecially  in  England,  the  principal  kingdon) 
of  the  Reformation.  In  this  kingdom,  thofe  principles, 
on  which  the  power  of  godlinefs  depends,  are  in  a  great 
jneafure  exploded,  and  Arianifm,  and  Socinianifm,  and 
Arminianiim,  and  Deifm,  are  the  things  which  prevail, 
and  carry  almoft  all  before  them.  And  particularly  hi- 
ftory  gives  no  account  of  any  age  wherein  there  was  fo 
great  an  apolfacy  of  thofe  who  had  been  brought  up 
under  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  to  infidelity  ;  never  was 
there  fuch  a  calling  off  of  the  Chriftian  and  all  revealed 
religion ;  never  any  age  wherein  was  fo  much  fcoffing 
^t  and  ridiculing  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  by  thofe  who 
have  been  brought  up  under  gofpel-Ught,  nor  any  thing 
like  it,  as  there  is  at  this  day. 

[3]  Another  thing  wherein  things  are  altered  for 
the  worfe,  is,  that  there  is  much  lefs  of  the  prevalency 
of  the  power  of  godlinefs,  than  there  was  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Reformation.  There  was  a  glorious  out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit  of  God  that  accompanied  thefirft 
Reformation,  not  only  to  convert  multitudes  in  foOiort 
a  time  from  Popery  to  the  true  religion,  but  to  turn 
many  to  God  and  true  godlinefs.  Religion  glorioufly 
ilourifhed  in  one  country  and  another,  as  moll  remark- 
ably appeared  in  thofe  times  of  terrible  perfccution, 
which  have  already  been  fpoken  of.  But  now  there  is  an 
exceeding  great  decay  of  vital  piety ;  yea,  it  feems  to 
be  defpiicd,  called  enthujiafm,  whnn/y,  zw^fanatiafm. 
Thofe  who  arc  truly  religious,  are  commonly  looked, 
upon  to  be  crack-brained,  and  befide  their  right  mind  \ 
and  vice  ajid  profanenefs  dreadfully  prevail,  like  a, 
F  p  2  fWL 


324  AHISTORYor  Period  IIL 

flood  which  threatens  to  bear  down  all  before  it. 

But  I  proceed  now  to  fhow, 

(2)  In  what  refpect  things  are  altered  for  the  better 
from  what  they  were  in  the  firll  Reformation. 

[1]  The  power  and  influence  of  the  Pope  is  much 
diminiflied.  Ahhough,  fince  the  former  times  of  the 
Reformation,  he  has  gained  ground  in  extent  of  domi- 
nion ;  yet  he  has  loft  in  degree  of  influence.  The  vial 
which  in  the  beginning  of  the  Reformation  was  poured 
out  on  the  throne  of  the  beaft,  to  the  great  diminifn- 
ing  of  his  power  and  authority  in  the  world,  has  con- 
tinued running  ever  fince.  The  Pope,  foon  after  the 
Reformation,  became  lefs  regarded  by  the  princes  of 
Europe  than  he  had  been  before ;  and  fo  he  has  been 
lince  Icfs  and  lefs.  Many  of  the  Popifh  princes  them- 
felves  feem  now  to  regard  him  very  little  more  than  they 
think  will  ferve  their  own  defigns;  of  xvhich  there  have 
been  feveral  remarkable  proofs  and  inftances  of  late. 

[2]  There  is  far  lefs  perfecution  now  than  there  was 
in  the  firft  times  of  the  Reformation.  You  have  heard 
already  how  dreadfully  perfecution  raged  in  the  former 
times  of  the  Reformation  ;  and  there  is  fomething  of  it 
flill.  Some  parts  of  the  Proteftant  church  are  at  this 
day  under  perfecution,  and  fo  probably  will  be  till  ihe 
day  of  the  church's  fufFering  and  travail  is  at  an  end, 
which  will  not  be  till  the  fall  of  Antichrift.  But  it  is 
now  in  no  meafure  as  it  was  heretofore.  There  does 
not  feem  to  be  the  fame  fpirit  of  perfecution  prevailing; 
it  is  become  more  out  of  fafhion  even  among  the  Po- 
pifh princes.  The  wickednefs  of  the  enemies  of  Chrift, 
and  the  oppofition  againft  his  caufe,  feem  to  run  in 
another  channel.  The  humour  now  is,  to  defpife  and 
laugh  at  all  religion  ;  and  there  feems  to  be  a  fpirit  of 
indiflerency  about  it.  However,  fo  far  the  ftate  of 
things  is  better  than  it  has  been,  that  there  is  fo 
much  lefs  of  perfecution. 

[3]  There  is  a  great  increafe  of  learning.  In  the 
dark  times  of  Popery  before  the  Reformation,  learning 
was  fo  far  decayed,  that  the  world  feemed  to  be  over- 
run with  baiharous  ignorance.  Their  very  priefls  were 
many  of  tliem  grofsly  ignorant.  Learning  began  to  re- 
vive with  the  Reformation,  which  was  owing  very 
much  to  the  art  of  printing,  which  was  invented  a  little 

before 


Partll.-i.     The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.     325 

before  the  Reformation  :  and  fince  that,  learning  has 
increafed  more  and  more,  and  at  this  day  is  undoubt- 
edly raifed  to  a  vaflly  greater  height  than  ever  it  was 
before  :  and  though  no  good  ufe  is  made  of  it  by  the 
greater  part  of  learned  men,  yet  the  increafe  of  learn- 
ing in  itfek  is  a  thing  to  be  rejoiced  in,  becaufe  it  is  a 
good,  and,  if  duly  applied,  an  excellent  handmaid  to 
divinity,  and  is  a  talent  which,  if  God  gi\'es  men  an 
heart,  affords  them  a  great  advantage  to  do  great  things 
for  the  advancement  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  and  the 
good  of  the  fouls  of  men.  That  learning  and  know- 
ledge (hould  greatly  encreafe  before  the  glorious  times, 
feems  to  be  foretold.  Dan.xii.  4.  "  But  thou,  O  Daniel, 
"  fhut  up  tb.e  words,  and  feal  the  book,  even  to  the 
*'  time  of  the  end  :  many  fhall  run  to  and  fro,  and 
*'  knowledge  Ihall  be  encreafed."  And  however  littles*- 
now  learning  is  applied  to  the  advancem.ent  of  religion  ; 
yet  we  may  hope  that  the  days  are  approaching  wherein 
God  will  make  great  ufe  of  it  for  the  advancement  of 
the  kingdom  of  Chrift. 

God  in  his  providence  now  feems  to  be  a61ing  over 
again  the  fame  part  which  he  did  a  httle  before  Chrift 
came.  The  age  wherein  Chrift  came  into  the  world, 
was  an  age  wherein  learning  greatly  prevailed,  and  was 
at  a  greater  height  than  ever  it  had  been  before  ;  and 
yet  wickednefs  never  prevailed  more  than  then.  God 
was  pleafed  to  fuffer  human  learning  to  come  to  fuch  a 
height  before  he  fent  forth  the  gofpel  into  the  world, 
that  the  world  might  fee  the  infufficiency  of  all  their 
own  wifdom  for  the  obtaining  the  knowledge  of  God, 
without  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  and  the  teachings  of  his 
Spirit :  and  then,  after  that,  in  the  wifdom  of  God,  the 
world  by  wifdom  knew  n^  -t  God,  it  pleafed  God  by  the 
fooliftmefs  of  preaching,  to  fave  them  that  believe.  And 
when  the  gofpel  came  to  prevail  firft  without  the  help 
of  man's  wifdom,  then  God  was  pleafed  to  make  ufe 
of  learning  as  an  handmaid.  So  now  learning  is  at  a 
great  height  at  this  day  in  the  world,  far  be\  ond  what 
It  was  in  the  age  when  Chrift  appeared  ;  and  now  the 
world,  by  their  learning  and  wifdom,  do  not  know 
God  ;  and  they  feem  to  wander  in  darknefs;  aremifer- 
ably  deluded ;  ftumble  and  fall  in  matters  of  religion, 
^s  in  mjdni^ht-darknefs.     Trufting  to  their  learning, 

they 


326  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  III. 

tliey  grope  in  the  day  time  as  in  the  night.  Learned 
men  are  exceedingly  divided  in  their  opinions  concern- 
ing the  matters  of  rehgion,  run  into  all  manner  of  corr 
nipt  opinions,  and  pernicious  and  foolifh  errors.  They 
fcprn  to  fubmit  their  reafon  to  divine  revelation,  to  be- 
lieve any  thing  that  is  above  their  comprehenfion ;  and 
fo  being  v/ife  in  their  own  eyes,  they  become  fools  and 
even  vain  in  their  imaginations,  and  turn  the  truth  of 
God  into  a  lie,  and  their  foolifh  hearts  are  darkened. 
See  Rom.  i.  21.  &c. 

But  yet,  when  God  has  fufEciently  fhown  men  the  in- 
fufiiciency  of  human  wifdom  and  learning  for  thepur- 
pofes  of  religion,  and  when  the  appointed  time  comes 
for  that  glorious  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God, 
when  he  will  himfelf  by  his  own  immediate  influence 
enlighten  mens  minds ;  then  may  we  hope  that  God 
will  make  ufe  of  the  great  increafe  of  learning  as  an 
handmaid  to  religion,  as  a  means  of  the  glorious  ad- 
vancement of  the  kingdom  of  his  Son.  Then  fhall  hu- 
man learning  be  fubfervient  to  the  imderftanding  of  the 
icriptuies,  and  to  a  clear  explanation  and  a  glorious  de- 
fence of  the  doclrines  of  Chiiftianity.  And  there  is 
no  doubt  to  be  made  of  it,  that  God  in  his  providence 
lias  of  late  given  the  world  the  art  of  printing,  and 
fuch  a  great  increafe  of  learning,  to  prepare  for  what 
he  defigns  to  accompli fh  for  his  church  in  the  approach- 
ing days  of  its  profperity.  And  thus  the  wealth  of  the 
wickeil  is  laid  up  for  the  juft,  agreeable  to  Prov,  xiii.22. 

Having  now  fhown  how  the  work  of  redemption 
has  been  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  pre- 
fent  time,  before  I  proceed  any  further,  I  would  make 
fome  Application. 

1.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  great  evi- 
dence of  the  truth  of  the  Chriftian  religion,  and  that 
the  fcriptures  are  the  word  of  God.  There  are  three 
arguments  of  this,  which  I  fliall  take  notice  of,  which 
may  be  drawn  from  what  has  been  faid. 

(ij  It  may  be  argued  from  that  violent  and  invete- 
rate oppofition  there  has  always  appeared  of  the  wick- 
ednefs  of  the  world  againll  this  religion.  The  religion 
that  tlie  church  of  God  has  profelTed  from  the  firft 
ibundijig  of  the  church  after  tlie  fall  to  this  time,  has 

a.hvays 


Part II.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     327 

always  been  the  fame.  Though  the  difpcnfations  have 
been  ahered,  yet  the  rehgion  which  the  church  has 
profelled  has  ahvays,  as  to  its  efTentials,  been  the  fame. 
The  church  of  God,  from  the  beginning,  has  been  one 
fociety-  The  Chriftian  church,  whicli  has  been  fince 
Ghrifl's  afcenfion,  is  manifcflly  the  fame  focieiy  conli- 
nued  with  the  church,  that  was  before  Chrill  came. 
The  Chriftian  church  is  grafted  on  their  root :  they  are 
buih  on  the  fame  foundation.  The  revelation  onwliich 
both  have  depended,  is  elfentially  the  fame  :  for  as  the 
Chriftian  church  is  built  on  the  holy  fcriptures,  fo  was 
the  Jewilh  church,  though  now  the  fcriptures  be  en- 
larged by  the  addition  of  the  New  Tellament ;  but  Hill 
it  is  eflentially  the  fame  revelation  with  that  which  was 
given  in  the  Old  leflament,  only  the  fubje^b  of  divine 
revelation  are  now  more  clearly  revealed  in  the  New 
Teftament  than  they  were  in  the  Old.  But  the  fum 
and  fubftance  of  both  the  Old  Teftament  and  new,  is 
Ghrift  and  his  redemption.  The  religion  of  the  cliurdi 
of  Ifrael  was  eftentially  the  fame  religion  with  that  of 
the  Chriftian  church,  as  evidently  appears  from  what 
has  been  faid.  The  ground-work  of  the  religion  of  the 
church  of  God,  both  before  and  fince  Chrift  has  ap- 
peared, is  the  fame  great  fcheme  of  redemption  by  the 
Son  of  God  ;  and  fo  the  church  that  was  before  the 
Ifraelitifli  church,  wasftill  the  fame  fociety,  and  it  was 
eflentially  the  fame  religion  that  was  profefled  and  prac- 
tifed  in  it.  Thus  it  was  from  Noah  to  Abraham,  and 
thus  it  was  before  the  flood.  And  this  fociety  of  men 
that  is  called  the  churchy  has  always  been  built  on  the 
foundation  of  thofe  revelations  which  we  have  in  the 
fcriptures,  which  have  always  been  cffentially  the  fame, 
though  gradually  encreafing.  The  church  before  the 
flood,  was  built  on  the  foundation  of  thofe  revelation> 
of  Chrift  which  were  given  to  Adam,  and  Abel,  ami 
Enoch,  of  which  we  have  an  accoimt  in  the  former 
chapters  of  Genefis,  and  others  of  the  like  import.  The 
church  after  the  flood  was  built  on  the  foundation  of 
the  revelations  made  to  Noah  aud  Abraliam,  to  Mel- 
chifcdek,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  to  Jofeph,  Job,  and  other 
holy  men  of  whom  we  have  an  account  m  the  fcrip- 
tures or  other  revelations  that  were  to  the  fame  pur- 
pofe.     And  after   this  the   church   depended  on  the 

fcriptures 


328  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Period  IIL 

fcrlptures  themfelves  as  they  gradually  increafed  ;  (o 
that  the  church  of  God  has  always  been  built  on  the 
foundation  of  divine  revelation,  and  always  on  thofe 
revelations  that  were  elfentially  the  fame,  and  which  are 
fummarily  comprehended  in  the  holy  fcriptures,  and 
ever  fmce  about  Mofes's  time  have  i3een  built  on  the 
fcriptures  themfelves. 

So  that  the  oppofition  which  has  been  made  to  the 
church  of  God  in  all  ages,  has  always  been  againft  the 
fame  religion,  and  the  fame  revelation.  Now  therefore 
the  violent  and  perpetual  oppofition  that  has  ever  been 
made  by  the  corruption  and  wickedncfs  of  mankind 
again  ft  this  church,  is  a  ftrong  argument  of  the  truth  of 
this  religion,  and  this  revelation,  upon  which  this  church 
has  always  been  built.  Contraries  are  well  argued  one 
from  another.  We  may  well  and  fafely  argue,  that  a 
thing  is  good,  according  to  the  degree  of  oppofition  in 
which  it  ftands  to  evil,  or  the  degree  in  which  evil  op- 
pofes  it,  and  is  an  enemy  to  it.  We  may  well  argue, 
that  a  thing  is  light,  by  the  great  enmity  which  darknefs 
has  to  it.  Now  it  is  evident  by  the  things  which  you 
have  heard  concerning  the  church  of  Chrift,  and  that 
holy  religion  of  Jefus  Chrift  which  it  has  profeffed,  that 
the  wickednefs  of  the  world  has  had  a  perpetual  ha- 
tred to  it,  and  has  made  moft  violent  oppofition  againft 
it. 

That  the  church  of  God  has  always  met  with  great 
oppofition  in  the  world,  none  can  deny.  This  is  plain 
by  profane  hiftory  as  far  as  that  reaches  ;  and  before 
that,  divine  hiftory  gives  us  the  fame  account.  The 
church  of  God,  and  its  religion  and  worftiip,  began  to 
be  oppofcd  in  Cain's  and  Abel's  time,  and  was  fo  when 
the  earth  was  filled  with  violence  in  Noah's  time.  And 
after  this,  how  was  the  church  oppofed  in  Eg}^pt  ?  and 
liow  was  the  church  of  Ifrael  always  hated  by  the  na- 
tions round  about,  agreeable  to  that  in  Jer.  xii.  9. — 
*'  Mine  heritage  is  unto  me  as  a  fpeckled  bird,  the 
*'  birds  round  about  are  againft  heri"  And  after  the 
Babylonifli  captivity,  how  was  this  church  perfecuted 
by  Antiochus  Epiphancs  and  others !  and  how  was 
Chrift  pcrfecuted  when  he  was  on  earth  !  and  how  were- 
the  apo files  and  other  Chriftians  perfecuted  by  the 
Jews^  before  the  dcftrii£tion  of  Jcrufalcm  by  the  Ro- 
mans I 


Partll.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     32^ 

mans !  how  violent  were  that  people  agalnft  the  church  I 
and  how  dreadful  was  the  oppofitiou  of  the  Hcatlicii 
world  againll  the  Chrillian  church  after  this,  before 
Conftantine!  how  great  was  their  fpiteagainlt  the  true 
religion !  and  fince  that,  how  yet  more  violent,  and 
fpiteful,  and  cruel,  has  been  the  oppofition  of  Anti- 
chrift  againfl  the  church  ! 

There  is  no  other  fuch  inffance  of  oppofition.  Hi- 
llory  gives  no  account  of  any  other  body  of  men  that 
have   been  fo  hated,  and  fo  malicioufly  and  infatiably 

purfued  and  perfecuted,  nor  any  thing  like  it. No 

other  religion  ever  was  fo  maligned  age  after  age.  The 
nations  of  other  profelBons  have  enjoyed  their  religions 
in  peace  and  quietnefs,  however  they  have  differed  from 
their  neighbours.  One  nation  has  worfhipped  one  fort  of 
gods,  and  others  another,  without  moleitingor  dilhirb- 
ing  one  another  about  it.  All  the  fpite  and  oppofition 
has  been  againft  this  religion,  which  the  church  of  Chrift 
has  profefled.  All  other  religions  have  feemed  to  ihow 
an  implacable  enmity  to  this ;  and  men  have  feemed  to 
have,  from  one  age  to  another,  fuch  a  fpite  againll  it, 
that  they  have  feemed  as  though  they  could  never  fatisfy 
their  cruelty.  They  put  their  inventions  upon  the  rack 
to  find  out  torments  that  fhould  be  cruel  enough  ;  and 
yet,  after  all,  never  feemed  to  be  fatisfied.  Their  thirll 
has  never  been  fatisfied  with  blood. 

So  that  this  is  out  of  doubt,  that  this  religion,  and 
thefe  fcriptores,  have  always  been  malignantly  oppofcd 
in  the  world.  The  only  quefiion  that  remains  is,  What 
it  is  that  has  made  this  oppofition  ?  Whether  or  not  it 
has  been  good  or  bad  ?  Whether  it  be  the  wickednefs 
and  corruption  of  the  world,  or  not,  that  has  done 
this  ?  But  of  this  there  can  be  no  greater  doubt  than 
of  the  other,  if  we  confider  how  caufelefs  this  cru- 
eltv  has  always  been,  who  the  oppofers  hdve  been,  and 
the  manner  in  which  they  have  oppofed.  The  Oj)pofi- 
tion  has  chiefly  been  from  Heathenifm  and  Popery  ; 
which  things  certainly  are  evil.  They  are  both  of  them 
very  evil,  and  the  fruits  of  the  blindnefs,  corruption,  and 
wickednefs  of  men,  as  the  very  Deifis  thcmfelves  con- 
fefs.  The  light  of  nature  fiiows,  that  the  religion  o£ 
Heathens,  confiifing  in  the  woiihip  of  idols,  and  facri- 
ficing  their  children  to  them,  and  in  obfcene  and  abo- 
Q  q  minable 


330  A   H  I  $  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  IIL 

niinable  rites  and  ceremonies,  is  wickednefs.  And  the 
fuperftitions,  and  idolatries,  and  ufurpations,  of  the 
church  of  Rome,  are  no  Icfs  contrary  to  the  light  of 
nature.  By  this  it  appears,  that  this  oppofition  which 
has  been  made  againft  the  church  of  God,  has  been  made 
by  wicked  men.  And  with  regard  to  tlie  oppofition  of 
the  Jews  in  Chrift's  and  the  apoftles  times,  it  was  in 
a  moft  corrupt  time  of  that  nation,  when  the  people 
were  generally  become  exceeding  wicked,  as  fome  of 
the  Jewifh  writers  themfelves,  as  Jofephus  and  others, 
who  lived  about  that  time,  do  exprefsly  fay.  And  that 
it  has  been  mere  wickednefs  that  has  made  this  oppofi- 
tion, is  manifeft  from  the  manner  of  oppofition,  the 
extreme  violence,  injuftice,  and  cruelty,  with  which 
the  church  of  God  has  been  treated.  It  feems  to  fliow 
the  hand  of  malignant  infernal  fpirits  in  it. 

Now  what  reafon  can  be  affigned,  why  the  corrup- 
tion and  wickednefs  of  the  world  fliould  fo  implacably 
fet  itfelf  againft  this  religion  of  Jefus  Chrift,  and  againll 
the  fcriptures,  but  only  that  they  are  contrary  to  wick- 
ednefs, and  canfequently  are  good  and  holy  ?  Why 
fhoiild  the  enemies  of  Chrift,  for  fo  many  thoufand 
years  together,  manifeft  fueh  a  mortal  hatred  of  this 
religion,  but  only  that  it  is  the  caufe  of  God  ?  If  the 
fcriptures  be  not  the  word  of  God,  and  the  religion  of 
the  church  of  Chrift  be  not  the  true  religion,  then  it 
muft  follow,  that  it  is  a  moft  wicked  religion ;  nothing 
but  a  pack  of  lies  and  abominable  delufions,  invented 
by  the  enem.ies  of  God  themfelves.  And  if  this  were 
fo,  it  is  not  likely  that  the  enemies  of  God,  and  the 
wickednefs  of  the  world,  would  have  maintained  fuch 
a  perpetual  and  implacable  enmity  againft  it. 

(2)  It  is  a  great  argument  that  the  Chriftian  church 
and  its  religion  is  from  God,  that  it  has  been  upheld 
hitherto  through  all  the  oppofition  and  dangers  it  has* 
pa  fled  through.  That  the  church  of  God  and  the  true 
religion,  which  has  been  fo  continually  and  violently 
cppofed,  with  fo  many  endeavours  to  overthrow  it, 
and  wdiich  has  fo  often  been  brought  to  the  brink  of 
ruin,  and  almoft  fwallowed  up,  through  the  greateft 
part  of  fix  tL'Oufand  years,  has  yet  been  upheld,  does 
inoft.  remarkably  fhow  the  hand  of  God  in  favour  of 
the  church.     If  we  confider  it,  it  will  appear  one  of  tlie 

greatcli 


Part  II.  1,     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     331 

greateft  wonders  and  miracles  that  evci  came  to  pafs. 
There  is  nothing  elfe  hke  it  upon  the  face  of  the  earth. 
There  is  no  other  fociety  of  men  that  has  Hood  as  the 
church  has.     As   to  the  old  world,  which  was  hcfore 
the  flood,  that  was  overthrown  by  a  deluge  of  waters ; 
but  yet   the  church  of  God  was  preferved,     Satan's, 
vifible  kingdom  on  earth  was  then  once  entirely  over- 
thrown ;  but  the  vifible  kingdom  of  Chrift  never  haa 
been  overthrown. All  thofe  ancient  human  king- 
doms and  monarchies   of  which  we  read,  and  which 
have  been  in  former  ages,  they  are  long  fmcc  come  to. 
an  end.     Thofe  kingdoms  of  which  we  read  in  the  Old 
Teftament,  of  the  Moabites,   the  Ammonites,  the  il- 
domites,  &c.  they  are  all  long  ago  come  to  an  end. — 
Thofe  four  great  monarchies  of  the  world  have  been, 
overthrown  one  after  another.     The  great  empire  of 
proud  Babylon  was  overthrown  by  the  Perfians ;  and 
then  the  Perfian  empire  was  overthrown  by  the  Greeks; 
after  this   the  Grecian  empire  was  overthrown  by  the 
Romans ;  and,  finally,   the  Roman  empire  fell  a  facri- 
fice  to  various  barbarous  nations.      Here  is  a  remark- 
able fulfilment  of  the  words  of  the  text  with  refpe6^  to 
other  things,  even  the  greateft  and  moft  glorious  of 
them  :  they   have   all  grown   old  and  vaniihed  away  ; 
**  The  moth  has  eaten    them  up   like  a  garment,  and 
"  the  worm  has  eaten  ihem  like  wool :"  but  yet  God's, 
church  remains. 

Never  were  there  fo  many  and  fo  potent  endea- 
vours to  deftroy  any  thing  elfe,  as  there  has  been  to. 
deftroy  the  church.  Other  kingdoms  and  focieties  of 
men,  which  have  appeared  to  be  ten  times  as  ftrong 
as  the  church  of  God,  have  been  dellroyed  with  an 
hundredth  part  of  the  oppofition  which  the  church  of 
God  has  met  with :  which  ftiows,  that  it  is  God  who 
has  been  the  proteftor  of  the  church.  For  it  is  moft 
plain,  that  it  has.  not  upheld  iifelf  by  its  own  ftrength. 
For  the  moft  part,  it  has  been  a  very  weak  fociety. — 
They  have  been  a  little  flock  :  fo  they  were  of  old. — 
The  children  of  Ifrael  were  but  a  fmall  handful  of 
people,  in  comparifon  of  the  many  who  often  fought 
their  overthrow.  And  fo  in  Chrift's  time,  and  in  the 
beginning  of  the  Chriftian  church  after  Chrift's  refur- 
reftion,  they  were  but  a  remnant :  whereas  the  whole 
multitude  of  the  Jcwifh  nation  were  a^ainft  thein.  And 

Q  q  2  f^ 


332  AHISTORYoF  Period  III. 

fo  in  tVie  beginning  of  the  Gentile  church,  they  were 
but  a  fmall  number  in  comparifon  with  the  Heathen, 
who  fought  their  overthrow.  And  fo  in  the  dark 
times  of  Antichrift,  before  the  Reformation,  they  were 
but  a  handful ;  and  yet  their  enemies  could  not  over- 
throw them.  And  it  has  commonly  been  fo,  that  the 
enemies  of  the  church  have  not  only  had  the  greateft 
number  of  their  fide,  but  they  have  had  the  ftrength  of 
their  fide  in  other  refpefts.  They  have  commonly  had 
all  the  civil  authority  of  their  fide.  So  it  was  in  Egypt : 
the  civil  authority  was  of  the  fide  of  the  Egyptians,  and 
the  church  were  only  their  flaves,  and  were  in  their 
hands  ;  and  yet  they  could  not  overthrow  them.  And 
fo  it  was  in  the  time  of  the  perfecution  of  Antiochus 
Epiphanes  :  the  authority  was  all  on  the  fide  of  the  per- 
fecutors,  and  the  church  was  under  their  domiinion  ;' 
and  yet  all  their  cruelty  could  not  extirpate  it.  And  fo 
it  was  afterwards  in  the  time  of  the  Heathen  Roman 
government.  And  fo  it  was  in  the  time  of  Julian  the 
apollate,  who  did  his  utmoft  to  overthrow  the  Chrifiian 
church,  and  to  reftore  Heathenifm.  And  fo  it  has 
been  for  the  moft  part  fince  the  rife  of  Antichrift :  for 
a  great  many  ages,  the  ci\al  authority  was  all  on  the 
fide  of  Antichrift,  and  the  church  feemed  to  be  in  their 
hands.  ■  :     •    '...;■ 

And  not  only  has  the  ftrength  of  the  enemies  of  the 
church  been  greater  than  the  ftrength  of  the  church, 
but  ordinarily  the  church  has  not  ufed  what  ftrength 
they  have  had  in  their  own  defence,  but  have  commit- 
ted themfelves  wholly  to  God.  So  it  was  in  the  time 
of  the  Jewifli  perfecutions  before  the  deftruftion  of  Je- 
rufalem  by  the  Romans ;  and  fo  it  was  in  the  time  of  the 
Heathen  perfecutions  before  Conftantine ;  the  Chri- 
ftians  did  not  only  not  rife  up  in  arms  to  defend  them- 
felves, but  they  did  not  pretend  to  make  any  forcible 
refiftance  to  their  Heathen  perfecutors.  So  it  has  for 
the  moft  part  been  under  the  Popifli  perfecutions ;  and 
yet  they  have  never  been  able  to  overthrow  the  church 
of  God  ;  but  it  ftands  to  this  very  day. 

And  this  is  ftill  the  more  exceeding  wonderful,  if  we 
confidcr  how  often  the  church  has  been  brought  to  the 
brink  of  ruin,  and  the  cafe  feemed  to  be  defperate,  and 
ail  hope  gone,  and  they  feemed  to  be  fwal lowed  up.  In 
the  time  of  the  old  world,  when  wickednefs  fo  prevail- 


Part  II.  1.   The  Work  of  REDEMPTION. 


333 


td,  as  that  but  one  family  was  left,  vet  God  wondcr- 
fully  appeared  and  ovcitlirew  the  wicked  world  with  a 
flood,  and  preferved  his  church.  And  fo  at  the  Red 
lea  when  Pharaoh  and  his  hoft  thought  they  were  (juite 
lure  of  their  prey ;  yet  God  appeared,  and  deflro)  ed 
them,  and  delivered  his  church.  And  fo  was  it  from 
time  to  time  in  the  church  of  Ifrael,  as  has  been  fhown. 
So  under  the  tenth  and  lafl:  heathen  perfecution,  their 
perfecutors  boalled  that  now  they  had  done  the  bufi- 
nefs  for  the  Chrillians,  and  had  overthrown  the  Chri- 
ifian  church  ;  yet  in  the  midft  of  their  triumph,  the 
ChrifHan  church  rifes  out  of  the  dull  and  prevails,  and 
the  Heathen  empire  totally  falls  before  it.  So  when  the 
Chriflian  church  feemed  ready  to  be  fwal lowed  up  by 
the  Arian  herefy  ;  fo  when  Antichrift  rofe  and  pre- 
vailed, and  all  the  world  wondered  after  the  bead,  and 
the  church  for  many  hundred  years  was  reduced  to  fuch 
a  fmall  number,  and  feemed  to  be  hidden,  and  the 
power  of  the  world  was  engaged  to  dellroy  thofe  little 
remainders  of  the  church ;  yet  they  could  never  fully 
accomplifli  their  defign,  and  at  lall:  God  wonderfully 
revived  his  church  in  the  time  of  the  Reformation,  and 
made  it  to  ftand  as  it  were  on  its  feet  in  the  fight  of  its 
enemies,  and  raifed  it  out  of  their  reach.  And  fo  fince, 
when  the  Popifh  powers  have  plotted  the  overthrow  of 
the  Reformed  church,  and  have  feemed  juft  about  to 
bring  their  matters  to  a  conclufion,  and  to  finifli  their 
defign,  then  God  has  wonderfully  appeared  for  the  de- 
liverance of  his  church,  as  it  was  in  the  time  of  the 
revolution  by  King  William.  And  fo  it  has  been  from 
time  to  time  ;  prefently  after  the  darkcft  times  of  the 
church,  God  has  made  his  Church  moft  glorioufly  to 
ilourilh. 

If  fuch  a  prefervation  of  the  church  of  God,  from 
die  beginning  of  the  ^vorld  hitherto,  attended  with  fnch 
circum.ftances,  is  not  fulHcient  to  fhcw  a  divine  hand  in 
favour  of  it,  what  can  be  devifed  that  would  be  fulli- 
cient  ?  But  if  this  be  from  the  divine  hand,  then  God 
owns  the  church  and  owns  her  religion,  and  owns  that 
revelation  and  thofe  fcriptures  on  which  Ihc  is  built  ; 
and  fo  it  will  follow,  that  their  religion  is  the  true  reli- 
gion, or  Gods  religion,  and  that  the  fciiptures,  which 
they  make  their  rule,  are  his  word. 

(3j  We. 


534  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  III, 

(3)  We  may  draw  this  further  argument  for  the  di- 
vine authority  of  the  fcriptures  from  what  has  been 
{aid,  viz.  that  God  has  fo  fulfilled  thofe  things  which 

are  foretold  in  the   fcriptures. 1  have  already  ob- 

ferved,  as  I  went  along,  how  the  prophecies  of  fcripr 
ture  were  fulfilled:  1  fhall  now  therefore  fingle  out 
but  two  inftances  of  the  fulfilment  of  fcripture  pro- 
phecy. 

[1  j  One  is  in  preferving  his  church  from  being  ruin- 
ed.    I  have  jull  now  fhown  what  an  evidence  this  is  of 
the  divine  authority  of  the  fcriptures  in  itfelf  confider- 
ed :  I  now  fpeak  of  it  as  a  fulfilment  of  fcripture-pro- 
phecy.     This  is  abundantly   foretold  and  promifed  in 
the  fcriptures,  as  particularly  in   the  text :    there  it  is 
foretold,  that  other  things  (hall  fail,  other  kingdoms  and 
monarchies,  which  fet  themfelves  in  oppofitipn,  fhould 
come  to  nothing  :  "  The  moth  fhould  eat  them  up  like 
*'  a  garment,  and  the  worm  fhould  eat  them  like  wool." 
And  fo  it  has  in  fact  come  to  pafs.  But  it  is  here  fore- 
told that  God's  covenant  mercy  to  his  church  fhould 
continue  forever ;  and  fo  it  hath  hitherto  proved,  tho* 
now  it  be  fo  many  ages  fince,  and   though  the  church 
has  parted  through  fo  many  dangers.  The  fame  is  promi^ 
fed,  If.  liv.  17.  "No  weapon  that  is  formed  againfl  thee, 
*•'  fhall  profper  ;  and  every  tongue  that  fliall  rife  againfl 
*'  thee  in  judgment,  thou  fhalt  condemm."   And  again, 
If.  xlix.  14.  15.  16.   *'But  Zion  faid,  the  Lord  hath 
*'  forfaken  me,  and  my  Lord  hath  forgotten  me.    Can 
*'  a  woman  forget  her  fucking  child,  that  fhe  fhould 
*'  not  have  compaffion  on  the  fon  of  her  womb  ?  yea^ 
"  they  may  forget,  yet  will  I  not  forget  thee.    Behold, 
*'  I  have'  graven  thee    upon  the    palms  of  my  hands, 
*'  thy  walls  are  continually  before  me."     The  fame  is 
promifed  again  in  If.   lix.  21.  and  If.  xliii.   1.  2.  and 
Zech.  xii.  2.3.    So  Chrlfl  promifes  the  fame,  when  he 
fays,    *'  On  tliis  rock  will  I  build  my  church,  and  the 
*'  gates  of  hell  fliall  not  prevail   againfl  it."     Now  if 
this  be  not  from  God,  and  the  fcriptures  be  not  the 
word  of  God,  and  the  church  of  Chrifl  built  on  the 
foundation  of  this  word  be  not  of  God,  how  could  the 
])erfons  who  foretold  this,  know  it  ?  for  if  the  church 
were  not  of  God,  it  was  a  very  unlikely  thing  ever  to 
come  to  pafs.     For  they  foretold  the  great  oppofition, 

t^nd 


Part  II.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     335 

and  the  great  dangers,  and  alfo  foretold  that  other 
kingdoms  (hould  coine  to  nought,  and  that  the  cliurcli 
fhould  often  be  ahnoft  fwal lowed  up,  as  It  were  cafy 
to  fhow,  and  yet  foretold  that  the  church  fhould  re- 
mahi.  Now  how  could  they  forel'ee  fo  unlikely  a  thing 
but  by  divine  infpiration  ? 

[2  J  The  other  remarkable  inflance  which  I  fliall  men- 
tion of  the  fulfilment  of  fcripture-prophecy,  is  in  ful- 
filling what  is  foretold  concerning  Antichrill,  a  certain 
great  oppofer  of  Chrill  and  his  kingdom.  And  the 
way  that  this  Antichrift  Ihould  arife,  is  foretold,  viz. 
not  among  the  Heathen,  or  thofe  nations  that  never 
profefTed  Chriftianity  ;  but  that  he  Hiould  arife  by  the 
apoftafy  and  falling  away  of  the  Chriftian  church  into 
a  corrupt  ftate  :  2  Thef.  ii.  3.  "  For  that  day  fhall  not 
*'  come,  except  there  come  a  falling  away  firll,  and 
"  that  man  of  fin  be  revealed,  the  fon  of  perdition." 

And  it  is  prophefied,  that  this  Antichrift,  or  man 

of  fin,  fliould  be  one  that  fiiould  fet  himfelf  up  in  the 
temple  or  vifible  church  of  God,  pretending  to  be  veft- 
ed  with  the  power  of  God  himfelf,  as  head  of  the 
church,  as  in  the  fame  chapter  verf.  4.  And  all  this 
is  exaftly  cometopafs  in  the  church  of  Rome.  Again, 
it  is  intimated,  that  the  rife  of  Antichrift  fiiould  be 
gradual,  as  there,  verf.  7.  "  For  the  myftery  of  iniqui- 
"  ty  doth  already  work  :  only  he  who  now  letteth,  will 
"  let,  until  he  be  taken  outof  the  way."  This  alfo  came 

to  pafs. Again,  it  is  prophefied  of  fuch  a  great  and 

mighty  enemy  of  the  Chriftian  church,  that  he  (hould  be 
a  great  prince  or  monarch  of  the  Roman  empire  :  fo 
he  is  reprefented  as  an  horn  of  the  fourth  beaft  in 
Daniel,  or  fourth  kingdom  or  monarchy  upon  earth, 
as  the  angel  himfelf  explains  it,  as  you  may  fee  of  the 
little  horn  in   the  7th  chapter  of  Daniel.     This  alfo 

came  to  pafs. Yea  it  is  prophefied,  that  the  feat  of 

this  great  prince,  or  pretended  vicar  of  God,  and  head 
of  his  church,  fhould  be  in  the  citv  of  Romeitfeif.  In 
the  17th  chapter  of  Revelation,  it  isfaid  exprefsly,  that 
the  fpiritual  whore,  or  falfe  church,  ihould  have  her 
feat  on  feven  mountains  or  hills  :  Rev.  xvii.  9.  "Tl;c 
*'  kven  heads  are  feven  mountains,  on  which  the  wo- 
**  man  fitteth  :"'  and  in  the  laft  verfe of  the  chapter  it  is 
fuid  exprefsly,  "  The  woman  which  thou  faweit,  is  that 

'*  great 


33^  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  of  Period  III. 

*'  great  city,  which  reigneth  over  the  kings  of  the 
*'  earth  ;"  which  it  is  certain  was  at  that  time  the  city 
of  Rome.  This  prophecy  alfo  has  come  to  pafs  in 
the  church  of  Rome. 

Further,  it  was  prophefied  that  this  Antichrifl 
fhould  reign  over  peoples,  and  mukitudes,  and  nations, 
and  tonguesi  Rev.  xvii.  15.  and  that  all  the  world 
ihould  wonder  after  the  beait,  Rev.  xiii.  3.  This  alfo 
came  to  pafs  in  the  church  of  Rome.  It  was  foretold 
tiiat  this  Antichrifl  fnould  be  eminent  and  remarkable 
for  the  fm  of  pride,  pretending  to  great  things,  and  af- 
iiiming  very  much  to  himfelf;  fo  in  the  forementioned 
place  in  ThefTalonians,  "  That  he  fhould  exalt  himfelf 
'*  above  all  that  is  called  God,"  or  that  is  worlhipped. 
So  Rev.  xiii.  5.  "  And  there  was  given  unto  him  a  mouth 
"  fpeaking  great  things,  and  blafphemies."  Dan.  vii. 
20.  the  little  horn  is  faid  to  have  a  mouth  fpeaking 
very  great  things,  and  his  look  to  be  more  ftout  than 
his  fellows.     This  alfo  came  to  pafs  in  the  Pope,  and 

tjie  church  of  Rome. It  was   alfo  prophefied,  that 

Antichrifl  fliould  be  an  exceeding  cruel  perfecutor, 
Dan.  vii.  2 1 .  The  fame  horn  made  war  with  the  faints, 
and  prevailed  againfl  them  :  Rev.  xiii.  7.  *'  And  it  was 
"  given  unto  him  to  make  war  with  the  faints,  and  to 
"  overcome  them."  Rev.  xvii.  6.  "  And  I  faw  the  wo- 
"  man  drunken  with  the  blood  of  the  faints,  and  with 
"  the  blood  of  the  martyrs  of  Jefus."    This  alfo  came 

to  pafs  in  the  church  of  Rome. It  was  foretold,  that 

Antichrifl  fhould  excel  in  craft  and  policy  :  Dan.  vii* 
8.  "In  this  horn  were  eyes  like  the  eyes  of  a  man."  And 
verf.  20.  "  Even  of  that  horn  that  had  eyes."  This  al- 
fo came  to  pafs  in  the  church  of  Rome. It  was  fore- 
told, that  the  kings  of  Chriflendom  fhould  be  fubje6l 
to  Antichrifl:  Rev.  xvii.  12.  13.  *'And  the  ten  horns 
"  which  thou  fawefl,  are  ten  kings,  which  have  recei- 
•'  ved  no  kingdom  as  yet;  but  receive  power  as  kings 
*'  one  hour  witli  the  beafl.  Thefe  have  one  mind,  and 
"  fliall  give  their  power  and  flrength  unto  the  beafl.'* 
This  alfo  came  to  pafs  with  refpeft  to  the  Romifh  church 

It  was  foretold  that  he  fliould  perform  pretended 

miracles  and  lying  wonders  :  2  Thef.  ii.  9.  "  Whole co- 
*'  ming  is  after  the  working  of  Satan,  with  all  power 
*'  and  fjgns,  and  lying  wonders."     Rev.  xiii.  13.   14. 

♦'  And 


Part  II.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    337 

*'  And  he  doth  great  wonders,  fo  (hat  he  maketh  fire 
**  come  down  from  Heaven  on  the  earth,  in  the  fight  of 
"  men,  and  deceiveth  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  by 
"  the  means  of  thofe  miracles  which  he  had  power  to 
*'  do  in  the  fight  of  the  beaft."  This  alfo  came  to  pafs 
in  the  church  of  Rome.  Fire's  coming  down  from 
Heaven,  feems  to  have  reference  to  their  excommuni- 
cations, which  were  dreaded  like  fire  from  Heaven. — It 
was  foretold,  that  he  fhould  forbid  to  marry,  and  to  ab- 
ftain  from  meats:  1  Tim.  4.  3.  "  Forbidding  to  mar- 
**  ry,  and  commanding  to  abftain  from  meats,  which 
•*  God  hath  created  to  be  received  with  thankfgiving.'* 
This  alfo  is  exaclly  fulfilled  in  the  church  of  Rome. — 
It  w^as  foretold,  that  he  fhould  be  veiy  rich,  and  ar- 
rive at  a  great  degree  of  earthly  fplendor  and  glory  : 
Rev.  xvii.  4.  "And  the  woman  was  arrayed  in  purple, 
"  and  fcarlet  colour,  and  decked  with  gold  and  pre- 
*'  cious  Hones,  and  pearls,  having  a  golden  cup  in  her 
"  hand."  And  fo  chap,  xviii.  7.  12.  13.  16.  This  al- 
fo is  come  to  pafs  with  refpe61;  to  the  church  of  Rome. 

It  was  foretold,  that  he  fliould  forbid  any  to  buy 

or  fell,  but  thofe  that  had  his  mark :  Rev.  xiii.  17. 
*'  And  that  no  man  might  buy  or  fell,  fave  he  that  had 
"  the  mark,  or  the  name  of  the  beall:,  or  the  number 
"  of  his  name."  This  alfo  is  fulfilled  in  the  church  of 

Rome. It  was  foretold,  that  he  fhould  fell  the  fouls 

of  men.  Rev.  xviii.  13.  where,  in  enumerating  the  ar- 
ticles of  his  merchandife,  the  fouls  of  men  are  mention- 
ed as  one.     This  alfo  is  exaftly  fulfilled  in  the  fame 

church. It  was  foretold,  that  Antichrift  would  not 

fuffer  the  bodies  of  God's  people  to  be  put  into  graves : 
Rev.  xi.  8.  9.  "  And  their  dead  bodies  Ihall  lie  in  the 
"  flreet  of  the  great  city, — and  they — Ihall  not  fuffer 
"  their  dead  bodies  to  be  put  in  graves."  This  alfo  has 
literally  come  to  pafs  with  refpe6f  to  the  church  of 

Rome. 1  might  mention  many  other  things  which 

were  foretold  of  Antichrilt,  or  that  great  enemy  of  the 
church  fo  often  fpoken  of  in  fcripture,  and  fhow  that 
they  were  fulfilled  moft  exa611y  in  the  Pope  and  the 
church  of  Rome. 

How  ftrong  an  argument  is  this,  that  the  fcnptures 
arc  the  word  of  God  ? 

2.  But  I  come  now  toafecond  inference;  which  is  diis: 
R  r  From 


^^8  A  HISTORY  of  PeiiodllL 

From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  learn  what  the  fpirk 
of  true  Chriftians  is,  viz.  a  fpii  it  of  fuffering.  See- 
ing God  has  fo  ordered  it  in  his  providence,  that  his 
church  fhould  for  fo  long  a  time,  for  the  greater  part 
of  fo  many  ages,  be  in  a  fuffering  ftate,  yea,  and  often 
in  a  ftate  of  fuch  extreme  fuffering,  we  may  conckide, 
that  the  fpirit  of  the  true  church  is  a  fuffering  fpirit, 
otherwife  God  never  would  have  ordered  fo  much  fuf- 
fering for  the  church  ;  for  doubtlcfs  God  accommo- 
dates the  ftate  and  circumftances  of  the  church  to  the 
fjjirit  that  he  has  given  them.  We  fee  by  what  has  beea 
faid,  how  many  and  great  fufferings  the  Chriftian 
church  for  the  m^oft  part  has  been  under  for  thefe  1700 
years :  no  wonder  therefore  that  Chrift  fo  much  incul- 
cated upon  his  difciples,  that  it  was  neceffary,  that  if 
any  would  be  his  difciples,  "  they  muft  deny  themfelves, 
*'  and  take  up  their  crofs  and  follow  him." 

And  we  may  argue,  that  the  fpirit  of  the  true  churck 
of  Chrift  is  a  fuffering  fpirit,  by  the  fpirit  the  church 
has  fhown  and  exercifed  under  her  fufferings.  She 
has  aftually,  under  thofe  terrible  perfecutions  through 
which  flie  has  paffed,  rather  chofen  to  undergo  thofe 
dreadful  torments,  and  to  fell  all  for  the  pearl  of  great 
price,  to  fuffer  all  that  her  bittereft  enemies  could  in- 
11161,  than  to  renounce  Chrift  and  his  religion.  Hiftory 
furnifties  us  with  a  great  number  of  remarkable  in- 
ftances,  fets  in  view  a  great  cloud  of  witneffes.  This 
abundantly  confirms  the  neceffuy  of  being  of  a  fpirit  to 
fell  all  for  Chrift,  to  renounce  our  own  eafe,  our  own 
worldly  profit,  and  honour,  and  our  all,  for  him,  and 
for  the  gofpel. 

Let  us  inquire,  whether  we  are  of  fuch  a  fpirit. — 
How  does  it  prove  upon  trial  ?  Does  it  prove  in  faft 
that  we  are  willing  to  deny  curfelves,  and  renounce  ou?r 
own  worldly  intereft,  and  to  pafs  through  the  trials  to 
which  we  are  called  in  providence  ?  Alas,  how  fmall 
are  our  trials,  compared  with  thofe  of  many  of  our  fel- 
low Chriftians  in  former  ages !  and  I  would  on  this 
occafion  apply  that  in  Jer.  xii.  ^.  "If  thou  haft  run 
"  with  the  footmen,  and  they  have  wearied  thee,  then 
*'  how  canft  thou  contend  with  horfes  ?"  If  you  have 
not  been  able  to  endure  the  light  trials  to  which  you 
have  been  called  in  tliis  age,  and  in  this  land,  ho\\r 

would 


Part II.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION. 


339 


would  you  be  able  to  endure  the  far  greater  trials  to 
which  the  church  has  been  called  in  former  ages  ?  Eve- 
ry true  Chriftian  has  the  fpirit  of  a  martyr,  and  would 
fuffer  as  a  martyr,  if  he  were  called  to  it  in  provi- 
dence. 

3.  Hence  we  learn  what  great  reafon  we  have,  af-- 
furedly  to  expe6l  the  fulfilment  of  what  yet  remains  to 
be  fulfilled  of  things  foretold  in  fcripture.  The  fcrip- 
tures  fortel  many  great  things  yet  to  be  fulfilled  before 
the  end  of  the  world.  But  there  feem  to  be  great  dif- 
ficulties in  the  way.  We  feem  at  prefent  to  be  vei  y  far 
from  fuch  a  flate  as  is  foretold  in  the  fcriptures ;  but 
we  have  abundant  reafon  to  expeft,  that  thefe  things, 
however  feemingly  difficult,  will  yet  be  accomplifhed 
in  their  feafon.  We  fee  the  faithfulnefs  of  God  to  his 
promifes  hitherto.  How  true  has  God  been  to  his 
church,  and  remembered  his  mercy  from  generation  to 
generation!  We  may  fay  concerning  what  God  has 
done  hitherto  for  his  church,  as  Jofhua  faid  to  the  chil- 
dren of  Ifrael,  Jofh.  xxiii.  14.  "  That  not  one  thing 
"  haih  failed  of  all  that  the  Lord  our  God  hath  fpo- 
^'  ken  concerning  his  church ;"  but  all  things  are  hi- 
therto come  to  pafs  agreeable  to  the  divine  prediftion. 
This  fhould  ftrengthen  our  faith  in  thofe  promifes,  and 
encourage  us,  and  ftir  us  up  to  earneft  prayer  to  God 
for  the  accomplifhment  of  the  great  and  glorious  things, 
which  yet  remain  to  be  fulfilled. 

It  has  already  been  fhown  how  the  fiiccefs  of  Chrift'a 
redemption  was  carried  on  through  various  periods 
down  to  the  prefent  time. 

IV.  I  come  now  to  Ihow  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's 
redemption  will  be  carried  on  from  the  prefent  time^ 
till  Antichrifl  is  fallen,  and  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on 

earth  is  deftroyed. And  with  rel'peft  to  this  fpace 

of  time,  we  have  nothing  to  guide  us  but  the  prophe- 
cies of  fcripture.  Through  moft  of  the  time  from  the- 
fall  of  man  to  the  dcilru6lion  of  Jerufalem  by  the  Ro- 
mans, we  had  fcripture  hiilory  to  guide  us ;  and  from 
thence  to  the  prefent  time  we  had  prophecy,  togellier 
with  the  accomplilhment  of  it  in  providence,  as  related; 
in  human  hiflories.  But  henceforward  we  have  only 
prophecy  to  guide  us.  And  here  I  would  pafs  by  thofct 
R  r  %  ihingi 


340  A  HISTORY  OP  Period  III. 

things  that  are  only  conje6lural,  or  that  are  furmifed  by 
fome  from  thofe  prophecies  which  are  doubtful  in  their 
interpretation,  and  fhall  infill  only  on  thofe  things 
which  are  more  clear  and  evident. 

We  know  not  what  particular  events  are  to  come  to 
pafs  before  that  glorious  work  of  God's  Spirit  begins, 
by  w^hich  Satan's  kingdom  is  to  be  overthrown.  By  the 
confent  of  moft  divines,  there  are  but  few  things,  if 
any  at  all,  that  are  foretold  to  be  accomplifhed  before 
the  beginning  of  that  glorious  work  of  God.     Some 
think  the  flaying  of  the  witnelTes,  Rev.  xi.  7.  8.  is  not 
yet  accomplifhed.     So  divines  differ  with  refpeft  to  the 
pouring  out  of  the  feven  vials,  of  which  we  have  an 
account,  Rev.  xvi.  how  many  are  already  poured  out, 
or  how  many  remain  to  be  poured  out ;  though  a  late 
expofitor,  whom  I  have  before  mentioned  to  you,  feems 
to  make  it  very  plain  and  evident,  that  all  are  already 
poured  out  but  two,  viz.  the  fixth  on  the  river  Euphra- 
tes, and  the  feventh  into  the  air.     But  I  will  not  now 
fraud  to  inquire  what  is  intended  by  the  pouring  out  of 
the  fixth  vial  on  the  river  Euphrates,  that  the  way  of 
the  kings  of  the  eafl  may  be  prepared ;  but  only  would 
fay,  that  it  feems  to  be  foraething  immediately  prepa- 
ring the  way  for  the  deflruftion  of  the  fpiritual  Babylon, 
as   the  drying  up  of  the   river  Euphrates,  which  ran 
through  the.  midfl  of  old  Babylon,   was  what  prepared 
the  way  of  the  kings  of  the  Medes  and  Perfians,  the 
kings  of  the  eaft,  to  come  in  under  the  walls,  and  de- 
flroy  that  city. 

But  whatever  this  be,  it  does  not  appear  that  it  is  any 
thing  which  fhall  be  accomplifhed  before  that  w^ork  of 
God's  Spirit  is  begun,  by  which,  as  it  goes  on,  Satan's 
vifible  kingdom  on  earth  fhall  be  utterly  overthrown. 
And  therefore  I  would  proceed  dire6ily  to  confider 
what  the  fcripture  reveals  concerning  the  work  of  God 
iifelf,  by  which  he  will  bring  about  this  great  event,  as 
being  the  next  thing  which  is  to  be  accomplifhed,  that 
wc  are  certain  of  from  the  prophecies  of  fcripture. 

And,  firfl,  I  vvould  obferve  two  things  in  general 
<:oncerning  it. 

1.  We  have  all  reafon  to  conclude  from  the  fcrip- 
tures,  that  jufl  before  this  work  of  God  begins,  it  will 
be  a  very  dark  time  with  refpecl  to  the  intereils  of  reli- 
gion, 


Partll.  1,    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    341 

gioii  in  the  world.  It  has  been  fo  before  thofe  glorious 
revivals  of  religion  that  have  been  hitherto.  It  was 
fo  when  Chrift  came ;  it  was  an  exceeding  degenerate 
time  among  the  Jews  :  and  fo  it  was  a  very  dark  time 
before  the  Reformation.  And  not  only  fo,  but  it  fecms 
to  be  foretold  in  fcripture,  that  it  fhall  be  a  time  of  but 
little  religion,  when  Chrifl  fhall  come  to  fet  up  his 
kingdom  in  the  world.  Thus  when  Chrili  fpake  of  his 
coming,  to  encourage  his  cleft,  who  cry  to  him  day 
and  night,  in  Luke  xviii.  8.  he  adds  this  "  Neverthelels 
*'  when  the  Son  of  man  cometh,  ihall  he  find  faith  on 
**  the  earth?"  Which  feems  to  denote  a  great  preva- 
lency  of  infidelity  jufl  before  Chriil's  coming  to  avenge 
his  buffering  church.  Though  Chrift's  coming  at  the 
laft  judgment  is  not  here  to  be  excluded,  yet  there 
feems  to  be  a  fpecial  refpeft  to  his  coming  to  deliver  his 
church  from  their  long  continued  fuflering  perfecuted 
flate,  which  is  accomplilhed  only  at  his  coming  at  the 
dellruftion  of  Antichrilt.  That  time  that  the  eleft  cry 
to  God,  as  in  Rev.  vi.  10.^  "  How  long,  O  Lord,  holy 
^'  and  true,  doft  thou  not  judge  and  avenge  our  blcod 
^'  on  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth  ?"  and  the  time  fpo- 
ken  of  in  Rev.  xviii.  20.  "  Rejoice  over  her,  thou 
"  heaven,  and  ye  holy  apoftles,  and  prophets,  for  God 
^*  hatl:^  avenged  you  on  her,"  will  then  be  acomplilh- 
ed. 

It  is  now  a  very  dark  time  with  refpeft  to  the  inter- 
efts  of  religion,  and  fuch  a  time  as  this  prophefied  of  in 
this  place  ;  wherein  there  is  but  a  little  faith,  and  a  great 
prevailing  of  infidelity  on  the  earth.  There  is  now  a 
remarkable  fulfilment  of  that  in  2  Pet.  iii.  3.  *'  Know- 
"  ing  this,  that  there  fhall  come  in  the  la  ft  days  fcof- 
*'  fers,  walking  after  their  own  lufts."  And  fo  Jude, 
17.  18.  *'  But  beloved,  remember  ye  the  words  which 
*'  were  fpoken  before  of  the  apoftles  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
•'  Chrift  ;  how  that  they  told  you  there  fhould  be  mock- 
"  ers  in  the  laft  time,  who  fliould  walk  after  their  own 
"  ungodly  lufts."  Whether  the  times  fhall  be  any  dark- 
er ftill,  or  how  much  darker,  before  the  beginning  of 
this  glorious  work  of  God,  we  cannot  tell. 

2.  There  is  no  reafon,  from  the  word  of  God,  to 
think  any  other  than  that  this  great  work  of  God  will 
be  wrought,  though  very  fwifily,  )et  gradually.     As 

the 


34^  A    HISTORY    OF  Period  III, 

the  children  of  Ifrael  were  gradually  brought  out  of  the 
Babylonifh  captivity,  firft  one  company,  and  then  ano- 
iher,  and  gradually  re-built  their  city  and  temple ;  and 
as  the  Heathen  Roman  empire  was  deftroyed  by  a  gra-- 
dual,  though  a  very  fwift  prevalency  of  the  gofpel ;  fo 
though  there  are  many  things  which  feem  to  hold  forth 
as  though  the  work  of  God  would  be  exceeding  fwift, 
and  many  great  and  wonderful  events  fhould  very  fud- 
denly  be  brought  to  pafs,  and  fome  great  parts  of  Satan's 
vifible  kingdom  fhould  have  a  very  fudden  fall,  yet  all 
will  not  be  accomplilhed  at  once,  as  by  fome  great  mi- 
racle, as  the  refurreftion  of  the  dead  at  the  end  of  the 
world  will  be  all  at  once  ;  but  this  is  a  work  which  will 
be  accomplifhed  by  means,  by  the  preaching  of  the  gofr 
pel,  and  the  ufe  of  tlie  ordinary  means  of  grace,  and 
fo  (hall  be  gradually  brought  to  pafs.  Some  fhall  be 
converted,  and  be  the  means  of  others  converfion. 
-God's  fpirit  fhall  be  poured  out  firft  to  raife  up  inftru- 
raents,  and  theji  thofe  mftruments  ihall  be  ufed  and 
fucceeded.  And  doubtlefs  one  nation  fliall  be  enlight- 
ened and  converted  after  another,  one  falfe  religion 
iind  falfe  way  of  worfhip  exploded  after  another.  By 
the  reprefentation  in  Dan.  ii.  3.  ^.  the  fk)ne  cut  out  of 
the  mountains  without  hands  gradually  grows.  So  Chrift 
teaches  us,  that  the  kingdorn  of  Heaven  is  like  a  grain  of 
muilard-feed,  Mauh.  xiii.  31.  32.  and  like  leaven  hidin 
three  meafures  of  meal,  verf.  33.  The  fame  reprefen- 
tation we  have  in  Mark,  iv.  26.  27.  28.  and  in  the  vilion 

of  the  ^v•at.ers  of  the   fanftuary,  Ezek.  xlvii. The 

fcriptures  hold  forth  as  though  there  fhould  be  feveral 
fucceffive  great  and  glorious  events  by  which  this  glo- 
rious work  fhould  be  accomplifhed.  The  Angel,  fpeak- 
ing  to  the  prophet  Daniel  of  thofe  glorious  times,  men- 
tions two  glorious  periods,  at  the  end  of  which,  glorious 
things  Ihould  be  accompliflied  :  Dan.  xii.  11.  "  And 
*'  from  the  time  that  the  daily  facriiice  fhall  be  taken 
*'  away,  and  the  abomination  that  maketh  defolate  fet 
*'  up,  there  Ihall  be  a  thoufand  two  hundred  and  nine- 
■"  ty  days."  But  then  he  adds  in  the  next  verfe, 
"  BlefTed  is  he  that  waiteth,  and  cometh  to  the  thou* 
*'  fand  three  himdrcd  and  five  and  thirty  days;"  inti*.. 
mating  that  fomcthing  very  glorious  fhould  be  accom- 

pUihed 


rartll.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     343 

plifhed  at  the  end  of  the  former  period,  but  fomcthing 
much  more  glorious  at  the  end  of  the  latter. 

But  I  now  proceed  to  fliow  how  this  glorious  work 
fhall  be  accomplidied* 

1.  The  fpirit  of  God  fhall  be  glorioufly  poured  out 
for  the  wonderful  revival  and  propagation  of  religion. 
This  great  work  Ihall  be  accomplilhed,  not  by  the  au- 
thority of  princes,  nor  by  the  wifdom  of  learned  men, 
but  by  God's  Holy  fpirit:  Zech.  iv.  6.  7.  *'  Not  by  might, 
•'  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit,  faith  the  Lord  of 
**  hofts.  Who  art  thou,  O  great  mountain  ?  before 
*'  Zerubbabel  thou  fhalt  become  a  plain,  and  he  fhall 
"  bring  forth  the  head-ftone  thereof  with  flioutings, 
"  crying,  grace,  grace  unto  it."  So  the  prophet  E- 
zekiel,  Ipeaking  of  this  great  work  of  God,  fays,  chap. 
xxxix.  29.  *'  Neither  will  I  hide  my  face  any  more  fron> 
"  them;  for  I  have  poured  out  my  Spirit  on  the  houfe 
*'  of  Ifrael,  faith  the  Lord  God."  We  know  not  where 
this  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  fhall  begin,  or  whether 
in  many  places  at  once,  or  whether  what  hath  already 
been,  be  not  fome  forerunner  and  beginning  of  it. 

This  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  when  it  rs 
begun,  fhall  foon  bring  great  multitudes  to  forfake  that 
vice  and  wickednefs  which  now  fo  generally  prevails, 
and  fhall  caufe  that  vital  religion,  which  is  now  fo  dei- 
pifed  and  laughed  at  in  the  world,  to  revive.  The 
work  of  converfion  Ihall  break  forth,  and  go  on  in  fuch 
a  manner  as  never  has  been  hitherto  ;  agreeable  to  that 

in  If.  xliv.  3.  4.  5. God,  by  pouring  out  his  Holy 

Spirit,  will  furailh  men  to  be  glorious  inflruments  of 
carrying  on  this  work ;  will  fill  them  with  knowledge 
and  wifdom,  and  fervent  zeal  for  the  promoting  the 
kingdom  of  Chrilf,  and  the  falvation  of  fouls,  and  pro- 
pagating the  gofpel  in  the  world.  So  that  the  gofpcl 
ihall  begin  to  be  preached  with  abtindantly  greater  clear- 
nefs  and  power  than  liad  heretofore  been  :  for  thii* 
great  work  of  God  fhall  be  brought  to  pafs  by  the 
preaching  of  the  gofpcl,  as  is  rcprefcnted  in  Rev,  yiv. 
6.  7.  8.  that  before  Babylon  falls,  the  Gofpel  Ihall  be 
powerfully  preached  and  propagated  in  the  world. 

This  was  typyfied  of  old  by  the  founding  of  the  filver 
trumpets  in  Ifrael  in  the  beginning  of  their  jubilee : 
Lev.  xxv.  9.  "  Then  flialt  thou  caufc  the  trumpet  of 

''-  the 


344        'A  HISTORY   OF  Period  III. 

"  the  jubilee  to  found  on  the  tenth  day  of  the  fe« 
**  venth  month  ;  on  the  day  of  atonement  fhall  ye 
•*  make  the  trumpet  found  throughout  all  your  land.'* 
The  glorious  times  which  are  approaching,  are  as  it 
were  the  church's  jubilee,  which  fhall  be  introduced  by 
the  founding  of  the  filver  trumpet  of  the  gofpel,  as  is 
foretold  in  If  xxvii.  13.  "  And  it  fhall  comie  to  pafs  in 
*'  that  day,  that  the  great  trumpet  fhall  be  blown,  and 
"  they  fhall  come  which  were  ready  to  perifh  in  the 
•'  land  of  Affyria,  and  the  outcafls  of  the  land  of  E- 
**  gyP^»  ^"^  ^^^^  worfhip  the  Lord  in  the  holy  mount 
•*  at  Jerufalem."  And  there  fhall  be  a  glorious  pour- 
ing out  of  the  Spirit  with  this  clear  and  powerful 
preaching  of  the  gofpel,  to  make  it  fuccefsful  for  re- 
viving thofe  holy  doftrines  of  religion  which  are  now 
chiefly  ridiculed  in  the  world,  and  turning  many  from 
herefy,  and  from  popery,  and  from  other  falfe  reli- 
gion ;  and  alfo  for  turning  many  from  their  vice  and 
profanenefs,  and  for  bringing  vafl  multitudes  favingly 
home  to  Chrift. 

That  work  of  converficn  fhall  go  on  in  a  wonderful 
manner,  and  fpread  more  and  more.  Many  fhall  flow 
together  to  the  goodnefs  of  the  Lord,  and  fhall  come 
as  it  were  in  flocks,  one  flock  and  multitude  after  ano- 
ther continually  flowing  in,  as  in  If.  Ix.  4.  5.  "  Lift 
**  up  thine  eye  round  about,  and  fee ;  all  they  gather 
*'  themfelves  together,  they  come  to  thee;  thy  fons 
*'  fhall  come  from  far,  and  thy  daughters  fhall  be  nur- 
«'  fed  at  thy  fide.  Then  thou  fhalt  fee  and  flow  toge- 
"  ther."  And  fo  verf.  8.  "  Who  are  thefe  that  fly  as 
"  a  cloud,  and  as  the  doves  to  their  windows  ?"  And 
it  being  reprefented  in  the  forementioned  place  in  the 
Revelation,  that  the  gofpel  fhall  be  preached  to  every 
tongue,  and  kindred,  and  nation,  and  people,  before 
the  fall  of  Antichrift;  fo  we  may  fuppofe,  that  it  will 
foon  be  glorioufly  fuccefsful  to  bring  in  multitudes  from 
every  nation  ;  and  it  fliall  fpread  more  and  more  with 
wonderful  fwifinefs,  and  vafl  numbers  fliall  fuddenly 
he  brought  in  as  it  were  at  once,  as  you  may  fee,  If. 
Ixvi.  7.'8.  9. 

2.  This  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  will  not 
effed  the  overthrow  of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom,  till 
tliere  has  firflbeen  a  violent  and  mighty  oppofition  made. 

Ill 


Part II.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     3^5 

In  this  the  fcriptiire  is  plain,  tliat  wlicn  Chrift  is  tlins 
glorioufly  coming  forth,  and  the  deflruclion  of  Anli- 
chrilt  is  ready  at  hand,  and  Satan's  kingdom  begins  to 
totter,  and  to  appear  to  be  immediately  threatened,  tlic 
powers  of  the  kingdom  of  darknefs  will  rife  up,  and 
mightily  exert  themfelves  to  prevent  their  kingdom 
being  overthrown.  Thus  after  the  pouring  out  the 
fixth  vial,  which  was  to  dry  up  the  river  Euphrates,  to 
pi-epare  the  way  for  the  deftru^tion  of  fpiritLial  Babylon, 
it  is  reprefented  in  Rev.  xvi.  as  though  the  powers  of 
liell  will  be  mightily  alarmed,  and  Ihould  flir  up  them- 
felves to  oppofe  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  before  the 
feventh  and  laft  vial  fhall  be  poured  out,  which  (hall 
give  them  a  final  and  complete  overthrow.  We  have 
an  account  of  the  pouring  out  of  the  fixth  in  verf.  12. 
And  then  upon  this,  the  beloved  difciple  informs  us  in 
the  following  verfcs,  that  "  three  unclean  fpirits  like 
*'  frogs  fhall  go  forth  unto  the  kings  of  the  earth,  to 
**  gather  them  together  to  the  battle  of  the  great  dav 
*'  of  God  Almighty."  This  feems  to  be  the  lafl:  and 
greateft  effort  of  Satan  to  fave  his  kingdom  from  being 
overthrown  ;  though  perhaps  he  may  make  as  great  to- 
wards the  end  of  the  world  to  regain  ir. 
.  When  the  Spirit  begins  to  be  fo  glorioufly  poured 
forth,  and  the  devil  fees  fuch  multitudes  flocking  to 
Chrift  in  one  nation  and  another,  and  the  foundations 
of  his  kingdom  daily  undermining,  and  the  pillars  of  it 
breaking,  and  the  whole  ready  to  come  to  fwift  and 
fudden  deftru6Uon,  it  will  greatly  alarm  all  hell.  Sa- 
tan has  ever  had  a  dread  of  having  his  kingdom  over- 
thrown, and  he  has  been  oppofing  of  it  ever  fince 
Chrill's  afcenfion,  and  has  been  doing  great  works  to 
fortify  his  kingdom,  and  to  prevent  it,  ever  fince  the 
day  of  Conftantine  the  Great.  To  this  end  he  has  let 
up  thofe  two  mighty  kingdoms  of  Antichrift  and  Ma- 
homet, and  brought  in  all  the  herefies,  and  fuperfliti- 
ons,  and  corrupt  opinions,  which  there  are  in  the  world. 
But  when  he  fees  all  begins  to  fail,  it  will  roufe  him 
up  exceedingly.  If  Satan  dreaded  being  caft  out  of 
the  Roman  empire,  how  much  more  docs  he  dread  be- 
ing caft  out  of  the  whole  world. 

It  fcems  as  though  in  this  lait  great  oppofition  which 
ihall  be  made  a^aiuft  the  church  to  defend  the  king- 
S  f  dom 


346  A  M  I  S  T  O  R  Y  o?  Period  II!. 

^om  of  Satan,  all  the  forces  of  Antichrift,  and  Maho*- 
metanifm,  and  Heathenifm,  will  be  united  ;  all  thefor^ 
ces  of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  through  the  whole  world 
of  mankind.  And  therefore  it  is  faid,  that  *'  fpirits  of 
*'  devils  {hall  go  forth  unto  the  kings  of  the  earth,  and 
"  of  the  whole  world,  to  gather  them  together  to  the 
**  battle  of  the  great  day  of  God  Almighty."  And  thefe 
fpirits  are  faid  to  come  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  dra- 
gon, and  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  beaft,  and  out  of  the 
mouth  of  the  falfe  prophet ;  i.  e.  there  {hall  be  the  fpi- 
tit  of  Popery,  and  the  fpirit  of  Mahomelanifm,  and 
the  fpirit  of  Heathenifm,  all  united.  By  the  beaft  is 
meant  Antichrift  ;  by  the  dragon,  in  this  book,  is  com- 
monly meant  the  devil,  as  he  reigns  over  his  Heathen 
kingdoms ;  by  the  falfe  prophet,  in  this  book,  is  fome- 
times  meant  the  Pope  and  his  clergy  :  but  here  an  eye 
feems  to  be  had  to  Mahomet,  whom  his  followers  call 
the  great  prophet  of  God.  This  will  be  as  it  were  the 
dying  ftruggles  of  the  old  ferpent ;  a  battle  wherein  he' 
will  fight  a^  one  that  is  almoft  defperate. 

We  know  not  particularly  in  what  manner  this  op-" 
pofition  {hall  be  made.  It  is  reprefented  as  a  battle;  it 
is  called  the  battk  of  the  great  day  of  God  Almighty. 
There  will  be  fom.e  way  or  other  a  mighty  ftruggle  be^ 
tween  Satan's  kingdom  and  the  church,  and  probably 
in  all  ways  of  opp0{ition  that  can  be ;  and  doubtlefs 
great  oppofition  by  external  force  ;  wherein  the  princes 
of  the  world  who  are  on  the  devil's  fide,  fhall  join  hand 
in  hand:  for  it  is  faid,  "  The  kings  of  the  earth  are 
*'  gathered  together  to  battle,"  Rev.  xix.  19.  And 
probably  withal  thefe  w"ill  be  great  oppofition  of  fubtle 
difputeis  and  carnal  reafoning,  and  greatperfecution  in 
many  places,  and  great  oppofition  by  virulent  reproach- 
es, and  alt'o  great  oppofition  by  craft  and  fubtilty.-— 
The  devil  now  doubtlefs  will  ply  hrs  fkill,  as  well  as 
ftrength,  to  the  utmoft.  The  devils,  and  thofe  who 
belong  to  their  kingdom,  \w'\\\  every  where  be  ftirrcd 
up,  and  engaged  to  make  an  united  a-rrd  violent  oppo{i- 
tion  againfl  this  holy  religion,  which  they  fee  prevail- 
ing fo  mightily  in  the  world. But, 

3.  Chrift  and  his  church  fhall  in  this!  battle  obtain  a 
complete  and  entire  viftory  over  their  enemies.  They 
iliall  be  totally  routed  and  overthrown  in  this  their  lafl 

effort. 


Partll.  I.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     347 

pfFort.  When  the  powers  of  hell  and  earth  are  ihus 
gathered  together,  againft  Chrifi,  and  his  arniics  Ihall 
come  forth  againil  them  by  his  word  and  Spirit  to  fight 
with  them,  in  how  augull,  and  pompous,  and  glorious 
a  manner  is  this  coming  forth  of  Chrilt  and  his  church 
to  this  battle  defciibed,  Rev.  xix.  ix.  &:c.  And  to  rc- 
prefent  to  us  how  great  the  viftor)'  ihould  be  which 
they  fliould  obtain,  and  how  mighty  the  ovcrihrow  of 
their  enemies,  it  is  faid,  verf.  17.  &  18.  that  "  all  the 
**  fowls  of  Heaven  are  called  together  to  cat  the  great 
*'  fupper  given  them,  of  the  flelh  of  kings,  and  cap- 
^'  tains,  and  mighty  men,"  Sec.  and  then,  in  the  fol- 
lowing verfes,  we  have  an  account  of  the  victory  and 
overthrow. 

In  this  viftory,  the  feventh  vial  fhall  be  poured  out. 
Jt  is  faid,  Rev.   xvi,  16.  of  the  great  army  that  fhould 
be  gathered  together  againft  Chrift :  "  And  he  gather- 
"  ed  them  together  into  a  place  called  in  the  Hebrevv 
■'  tongue,  Armageddon  ;"  and  then  it  is  faid,  *' And  the 
*'   feventh  angel  poured  out  his  vial  into  the  air ;  and 
*'  there  came  a  great  voice  out  of  the  temple  of  Heaven, 
*'  from  the  throne,  faying,  It  is  done."     Now  the  bu- 
finefs  is  done  for  Satan  and  his  adherents.     When  this 
viftory  is  obtained,  all   is  in  effetf  done.     Satan's  laft 
and  greateft  oppolition  is  conquered  ;  all  his  meafurea 
are  defeated  ;  the  pillars  of  his  kingdom  broken  afun- 
der,  and  will  fall  of  courfe.     The  devil  is  utterly  baf- 
fled and  confounded,  and  knows  not  what  elfe  to  do. — 
He  now  fees  his  Antichriftian,   and  Mahometan,  and 
Heatheuifh  kingdoms  through  the  world,  all  tumbling 
about  his  ears.     He  and  his  moft  powerful  inftruments 
are  taken   captive.     Now  that  is  in  effetl  done  w^hich 
the  church  of  God  had  been  fo  long  waiting  and  hoping 
for,  and  fo  earneftly  crying  to  God  for,  faying,  "  How 
^'  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true  ?"  now  the  time  is  come. 
The  angel  who  fet  his  right  foot  on  the  fea,  and  his 
left  foot  on  the  earth,  lift  up  his  hand  to  Heaven,  and 
fwore  by  him  that  liveth  for  ever  and  ever,  who  crea- 
ted Heaven,  and  all  things  that  therein  are,  and  the 
earth,  and  the  things  that  tlierein  are,  and  the  fe9, 
and  the  things  which  are  therein,  that  when  the  feventh 
angel  fhould  come  to  found,  the  time  fliould  be  na 
longer.     And  now  the  time  is  come  ;  now  tlie  feventlii 
S  f  3  irumpeti 


348  AHISTORYoF  Period  III. 

trumpet  founc^s,  and  the  feventh  vial  is  poured  out, 
both  together ;  inArhating,  that  now  all  is  finifhed  aS 
to  the  overthrow  of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on  earth. 
7'his  vifloiy  lliall  be  by  far  the  greateft  that  ever  was 
obtained  over  Satan  and  his  adherents.  By  this  blow, 
with  whic^i  t\\e  i^one  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without 
bands  (haW  l\riV>e  the  image  of  gold,  and  filver,  and 
hrafs,  and  iron,  and  clay,  it  fhall  all  be  broken  to  pie- 
ces. This  will  be  a  finifhing  blow  to  the  image,  fo 
that  it  fhall  become  as  the  chaff  of  the  fumm.er  threlh- 
ing- floor. 

In  this  vi.^ory  will  be  a  moH  glorious  difplay  of  di- 
Tine  power.  Chrift  fhall  therein  appear  in  the  charac- 
ter of  King  oi  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords,  as  in  Rev. 
xlx.  16.  Now  Chrift  fhall  dalli  his  enemies,  even  the 
flrongeft  and  proudeft  of  them,  in  pieces;  as  a  potter's 
veffel  fhall  they  be  broken  :o  Olivers.  Then  fliall  llrength 
"be  fhovvn  oui  of  weaknefs,  and  Chrift  fhall  caufe  his 
church  as  it  were  to  threfh  the  mountains,  as  in  If.  xli. 
1^5.  *'  Behold,  1  will  make  thee  a  new  fharp  threfli- 
"  irig-inflrumenr  having  teeih  :  thou  fbalt  threfh  the 
*'  m'ountains,  and  beat  them  fmall,  and  flialt  make  the 
*'  hills  as  chaff."  And  then  fhall  be  fulfilled  that  in 
If.  xlii.  13.  14.  1^.      - 

4.  Gonfcqueut  on  this  vi^lory,  Satan's  vifible  king- 
dom on  earth  Ihall  be  deflroyed.  When  Satan  is  con- 
4uered  in  this  lafl  battle,  the  church  of  Chrift  will  have 
eafy  work  of  it ;  as  wdien  Jofhua  and  the  children  of 
Ifrael  had  obtained  that  great  victory  over  the  five  kings 
of  the  Amorites,  when  the  fun  flood  flill,  and  God 
fent  great  hail-flones  on  their  enemies,  they  after  that 
■went  from  one  city  to  another,  and  burnt  them  with 
fire:  they  had  eafy  work  of  fubduing  the  cities  and 
country  to  which  they  belonged.  So  it  was  alfo  after 
that  other  great  battle  that  Jofhua  had  with  that  great 
multitude  at  the  waters  of  Meram.  So  after  this  glo- 
rious viftory  of  Chrift  and  his  church  over  their  ene- 
mies, over  the  chief  powers  of  Satan's  kingdom,  they 
fhall  de(lro)«t  that  kingdom  in  all  thofe  cities  and  coun- 
tries to  which  they  belonged.  After  this  the  word  of 
God  Ihall  have  a  fpeedy  and  fwift  progrefs  through  the 
earth ;  as  it  is  faid,  that  on  the  pouring  out  of  the  fe- 
venth vial,  "the  cities  of  the  nations  fell,  andeverv  ifland 
-  ,       .      ^  "Med 


Part  II.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     3.19 

*'  fled  away,  and  the  mountains  were  not  found,"  Rev. 
xvi.  19.20.  When  once  the  flonc  cut  out  ot  the  moun- 
tain without  hands  liad  broken  the  image  in  pieces,  it 
was  eafy  to  abolilh  all  remains  of  it.  The  very  wind 
will  carry  it  away  as  the  chaff  of  the  fummer  threOnng 
floor.  Becaufe  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on  cartii  fhail 
how  be  dcItro)ed,  therefore  it  is  faid,  that  the  fcventh 
vial,  by  which  this  fhall  be  done,  (hall  be  poured  out 
into  the  air ;  which  is  reprefented  in  fcri[)ture  as  the 
fpecial  feat  of  his  kingdom  ;  for  he  is  called  (he  piime 
of  the  power  of  the  air,  Eph.  ii.  2.  Now  is  come  the 
time  for  punching  Leviatlian,  that  piercing  ferpent,  of 
which  we  read  in  If.  xxvii.  i.  "In  that  day  the  Lord 
*'  with  his  fore  and  great  and  fliong  fword,  fjiall  pu- 
"  nifli  Leviathan  the  piercing  ferpent,  even  Le\iathan, 
"  that  crooked  ferpent,  and  he  fhall  flay  the  Dragon 
"  that  is  in  the  fea." 

Concerning  this  overthrow  of  Satans  vifible  kingdom 
on  earth,  I  would,  1.  Show  wherein  this  overthrow 
of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  will  chiefly  confifl;  2.  The 
extent  and  univerfality  of  this  overthrow. 

1.  I  would  fliow  wherein  this  overthrow  of  Satan's 
kingdom  will  chiefly  confiff.  I  fhall  mention  the  par- 
ticular things  in  which  it  will  confifl,  without  pretend- 
ing to  determine  in  what  order  they  fhall  come  to  pafs, 
or  which  fliall  be  accompliflied  firff,  or  whether  they 
(hall  be  accomplifhed  together. 

(1)  Herefies,  and  infidelity,  and  fuperflition,  among 
tho^fe  who  have  been  brought  up  under  the  light  of'  the 
gofpel,  will  then  be  abolilhed.  Then  there  will  be  an 
end  to  Socinianifm,  and  Arianifm,  and  Quakcrifm, 
and  Arminianifm ;  and  Deifm,  which  is  now  fo  bold 
and  confident  in  infidelity,  fhall  then  be  crufhed,  and 
driven  away,  and  vanilh  to  nothing ;  and  all  Ihall  agree 
in  the  fame  great  and  important  doctrines  of  the  gofpel; 
agreeable  to  that  in  Zech.  xiv.  9.  '*  And  the  Lord  (hall 
«'  be  king  over  all  the  earth :  in  that  day  fhall  there 
*'  be  one  Lord,  and  his  name  one,"  Then  Ihall  be 
aboliOied  all  fuperflitious  wa)s  of  worfliip,  and  all  fliall 
agree  in  worfhipping  God  in  his  o\vn  w3)  s :  Jer.  xxxii. 
39.  "  A.nd  I  will  give  them  one  heart,  and  one  way, 
"  that  they  may  fear  me  forever,  for  the  good  of 
*'  them,  and  of  their  children  after  them. 
^    •  (2)  The- 


3oQ  A  HISTORY   or  Period  III. 

(2)  The  kingdom  of  Antipbrifl:  ftall  be  utterly  over* 
thrown.  His  kingdoni  and  dominion  has  been  much 
brought  do;v'n  already  by  the  vial  poured  out  on  hi$ 
throne  in  the  Reformation  ;  but  then  it  ihall  be  utterly 
deftroyed.  Then  Ihall  be  proclaimed,  *'  Babylon  is  fal- 
"  len,  IS  fallen."  When  the  feventh  angel  founds,  "  the 
"  time,  times  and  half,  fhall  be  out,  and  the  time  ihall 
*^  be  no  longer."  Then  fhall  be  accoraplifhed  concern* 
ing  Antichrift  the  things  which  are  written  m  the  1 8th 
chapter  of  Revelation,  of  the  fpiritual  Babylon,  that 
great  city  Rome,  or  the  idolatrous  Roman  government, 
that  has  for  fo  many  ages  been  the  great  enemy  of  the 
Chrillian  church,  firll  under  Heathenifm,  then  under 
Popery  :  that  proud  city  which  lifted  herfelf  up  to  Hea- 
ven, and  above  God  himfelf  in  her  pride  and  haughti- 
nefs ;  that  cruel,  bloody  city,  fhall  come  down  to  the 
ground.  Then  Ihall  that  be  fulfilled,  If.  xxvi.  5.  "For 
*'  he  bringeth  down  them  that  dwell  on  high,  the  lofty 
^V  city  he  layeth  it  low,  he  layeth  it  low,  even  to  the 
*:'  groLuid,  he  bringeth  it  even  to  the  duff.  She  fhall  be 
**  thrown  down  with  violence,  hke  a  great  millflone  caft 
**  into  the  fea,  and  fhall  be  found  no  more  at  all,  3n4 
*'  fhall  become  an  habitation  of  devils,  and  the  hold  of 
««  every  foul  fpirit,  and  a  cage  of  every  unclean  and 
*'  hateful  bird."  Now  fhall  fhe  be  flripped  of  all  her 
glory,  and  riches,  and  ornaments,  and  Ojall  be  cafl  out 
as  an  abominable  branch,  and  fhall  be  trodden  do^^'n  as 
the  mire  of  the  ftreets.  All  her  policy  and  craft,  in 
which  fhe  fo  abounded,  fhall  not  fave  her.  And  God 
{hall  make  his  people,  who  have  been  fo  perfecuted  by 
lier,  to  come  and  put  their  foot  on  the  neck  of  Anti- 
chrift, and  he  fliall  be  their  foot  flool.  All  the  flrength 
and  wifdom  of  this  great  whore  fhall  fail  her,  and  there 
ihall  be  none  to  help  her.  The  kings  of  the  earth,^ 
who  before  gave  their  power  and  flrength  to  the  beafl:, 
fhall  now  hate  the  whore,  and  fhall  make  her  defolate 
and  naked,  and  fhall  eat  her  flefh,  and  burn  her  with 
hre,  Rev.  xvii.  16. 

(3)  That  other  great  kingdom  which  Satan  has  fet 
up  in  oppofition  to  the  Chriflian  church,  viz.  his  Ma- 
hometan kingdom,  fhall  be  utterly  overthrown.  The 
]|ocufls  and  horfemen  in  the  9th  of  Revelation,  have 
their  appointed  and  limited  time  fet  them  there,  and  t\i^ 

falfe 


Part  II.  1.   The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     3^4 

falfe  prophet  fhall  be  taken  and  deftroyed.  And  dicn 
though  Mahometaiiifm  has  been  io  valfly  propagated  in 
the  world,  an^l  is  uj)held  by  luch  a  great  empire,  this 
fmoke,  which  has  afcended  out  of  the  bottomlefa  pit, 
{hall  be  utterly  fcattered  before  the  light  of  that  glo- 
rious day,  and  the  Mahometan  empire  Ihall  fall  at  the 
found  of  the  great  trumpet  which  (hall  then  be  blown^ 

(4)  Jc^'i^^  infidelity  iliall  then  be  overthrown.  How 
everobllinate  they  have  been  now  for  above  1700  years 
in  their  reje^Hon  of  Chrift,  and  inftances  of  the  con- 
verfion  of  any  of  that  nation  have  been  fo  very  rare 
ever  {ince  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem,  but  they  have 
againft  the  plain  teachings  of  their  own  prophets,  con- 
tinued to  approve  of  the  cruelty  of  their  forefathers  in 
crucifying  Chrift  ;  yet  when  this  day  comes,  the  thick 
veil  that  blinds  their  eyes  fhall  be  removed,  2  Cor.  iii. 
16.  and  divine  grace  Ihall  melt  and  renew  their  hard 
hearts,  '*  and  they  fhall  look  on  him  whom  they  have 
**  pierced,  and  they  (hall  mourn  for  him,  as  one  mourn- 
"  eth  for  his  only  fon,  and  fhall  be  in  bitternefs  as  one 
**  that  is  in  bitternefs  for  his  firfl  born,"  Zech.  xii.  10. 
&c.  And  then  fhall  the  houfe  of  Ifrael  be  faved  :  tha 
Jews  in  all  their  difperfions  fhall  caff  away  their  old  in- 
fidelity, and  fhall  wonderfully  have  their  hearts  chang- 
ed, and  abhor  themfelves  for  their  pafl  unbelief  and 
obflinacy  ;  and  fliall  flow  together  to  the  bleffed  Jefus, 
penitently,  humbly,  and  joyfully,  owning  him  as  their 
glorious  King  and  only  Saviour,  and  fhall  with  all  their 
hearts,  as  with  one  heart  and  voice,  declare  his  praifes 
unto  other  nations. 

Nothing  is  more  certainly  foretold  than  this  national 
converfion  of  the  Jews  is  in  the  nth  chapter  of  Ro- 
mans. And  there  are  alfo  many  paflages  of  the  Old 
Teffament  \\rhich  cannot  be  interpreted  in  any  other 
fenfe,  which  I  cannot  now  ffand  to  mention.  Befides 
the  prophecies  of  the  calling  of  the  Jews,  we  have  a  re- 
markable feal  of  the  fulfilment  of  this  great  event  in 
providence,  by  a  thing  which  is  a  kind  of  continual 
miracle,  viz.  their  being  preferved  a  dilfinft  nation  in 
fuch  a  difperfed  condition  for  above  1600  years.  The 
world  affords  nothing  elfe  like  it.  There  is  undoubted- 
ly a  remarkable  hand  of  providence  in  it.  When  thc%' 
Ml  ht  called,  then  fluijl  that  ancient  people,  that  were 

^lonc 


2>5' 


A  HISTO  R  Y  Of  PeiiodllL 


alvine  God's  people  for  fo  long  a  time,  be  God's  people 
again,  never  to  be  lejected  more  :  they  Ihall  then  be  ga- 
thered into  one  told  together  with  the  Gentiles ;  and  lo 
alfo  fnall  the  remains  of  the  ten  tribes,  where-ever  they 
be,  and  though  they  have  been  rejected  much  longer 
than  the  Jews,  be  brought  in  with  their  brethren  the 
Jews.  The  prophecies  of  Hofea  efpecially  feem  to  hold 
this  forth,  that  ni  the  future  glorious  times  of  the 
church,  both  Judah  and  Ephraim,  or  Judah  and  the 
ten  tribes,  fiiall  be  brought  in  together,  and  fiiall  be 
united  as  one  people,  as  they  formerly  were  under  Da- 
vid and  Solomon  ;  as  Hof.  i.  11.  and  fo  in  the  1  aft 
chapter  of  Hofca,  and  other  parts  of  his  prophecy. 

Though  we  do  not  know  the  time  in  which  diis  con- 
verfion  of  the  nation  of  Ifrael  will  come  to  pafs  ;  yet 
thus  much  we  may  determine  by  fcripture,  that  it  will 
be  before  the  glory  of  the  Gentile  part  of  the  church 
{hall  be  fully  accomplifhed  ;  becaufe  it  is  faid,  that 
their  coming  in  fhail  be  life  from  the  dead  to  the  Gen- 
tiles, Rom.  xi.  12.  15. 

(5)  Then  fhall  alfo  Satan's  Heathenilli  kingdom  be 
overthrown.  Grofs  Heathenifm  now  pofleffes  a  great 
part  of  the  earth,  and  there  are  fuppofed  to  be  more 
Heathens  now  in  the  world,  than  of  all  other  profef- 
fions  taken  together,  Jews,  Mahometans,  or  Chriftians. 
But  then  the  Heathen  nations  fhall  be  enlightened  with 
the  glorious  gofpel.  There  will  be  a  wonderful  fpirit 
of  pity  towards  them,  and  zeal  for  their  inftru6tion 
and  converfion  put  into  multitudes,  and  many  fhall  go 
forth  and  carry  the  gofpel  unto  them  ;  and  then  fhall 
the  joyful  found  be  heard  among  them,  and  the  Sun 
of  righteoufnefs  fiiall  then  arife  with  his  glorious  light 
Ihining  on  thofe  many  vaft  regions  of  the  earth  that 
have  been  covered  with  Heathenifli  darknefs  for  many 
thoufand  years,  many  of  them  doubtlefs  ever  fmce  the 
times  of  Mofes  and  Abraham,  and  have  lain  thus  long 
in  a  miferable  condition,  under  the  cruel  tyranny  of  the 
devil,  who  has  all  this  while  blinded  and  befooled  them 
and  domineered  over  them,  and  made  a  prey  of  them 
from  generation  to  generation.  Now  the  fflad  tidings 
of  the  {Tof})el  fhall  found  there,  and  they  fhall  be  brought 
out  of  darknefs  into  marvellous  light. 

li  is  promifcd,  that  Heathenifm  fhall  thus  be  deflroy- 

cd 


Part II.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION. 


353 


ed  in  many  places.  God  has  faid,  That  the  gods  that 
have  not  made  thefe  Heavens  and  this  earth,  fhall  peiilh 
from  the  earth,  and  from  under  thefe  Heavens,  Jer.  x. 
11.  and  that  he  will  utterly  abohlh  idols,  If.  ii.  i8. — 
Then  Ihall  the  many  nations  of  Africa,  the  nations  of 
negroes,  and  other  Heathens  who  chiefly  fill  that  quar- 
ter of  the  world,  who  now  feem  to  be  in  a  ilate  but 
little  above  the  beafts,  and  in  many  refpefts  much  be- 
low them,  be  enlightened  with  glorious  light,  and  deli- 
vered from  all  their  darknefs,  and  Ihall  become  a  civil, 
Chriflian,  underftanding,  and  holy  people.  Then  Ihall 
the  vail  continent  of  America,  which  now  in  fo  great 
a  part  of  it  is  covered  with  barbarous  ignorance  and  cru- 
elty, be  every-where  covered  with  glorious  gofpel-light 
and  Chriftian  love  ;  and  inflead  of  worlhipping  the  de- 
vil, as  now  they  do,  they  fhall  ferve  God,  and  prailes 
fliall  be  fung  every  where  to  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  the 
bleffed  Saviour  of  the  world.  So  may  we  expett  it  will 
be  in  the  great  and  populous  part  of  the  world,  the 
Eaft-Indies,  which  are  now  m.ollly  inhabited  by  the 
worlhippers  of  the  devil ;  and  fo  throughout  that  valt 
country  Great  Tartary  :  and  then  the  kingdom  of 
Chrili;  will  be  eftablifhed  In  thofe  continents  which  have 
been  more  lately  difcovered  towards  the  north  and  fouth 
poles,  where  men  now  differ  very  little  from  the  wild 
beafts,  excepting  that  they  worfhip  the  devil,  and  the 
beafts  do  not.  The  fame  will  be  the  cafe  with  refpeft 
to  thofe  countries  which  have  never  yet  been  difcovered. 
Thus  will  be  glorioufly  fulfilled  that  in  If.  xxxv.  i. — 
•'  The  wildernefs  and  the  fohtary  place  fhall  be  glad 
*'  for  them  :  and  the  defart  fhall  rejoice,  and  bloffom 
"as  the  role."     See  alfo  verf.  ^.  "^^ 

2.  Having  thus  fho\v-n  wherein  this  overthrow  of  Sa- 
tan's kingdom  will  confift,  I  come  now  to  the  thing  to 
be  obferved  concerning  it,  viz.  its  univeriai  extent. — 
The  vifible  kingdom  of  Satan  Ihall  be  overthrown,  and 
the  kingdom  of  Chrift  fet  up  on  the  ruins  of  it,  every 
where  throughout  the  whole  habitable  globe.  Now  fhall 
thepromife  made  to  Abraham  be  fullilled,  that*'  In  him 
*'  and  in  his  feed  all  the  families  of  the  earth  fhall  bq 
*'  bleffed  ;"  and  Chrift  now  fliall  become  the  defire  o£ 
all  nations,  agreeable  to  Haggai,  ii.  7.  Now  the  king- 
dom of  Chrift  fhall  in  the  moft  ftrift  and  literal  fcnfe  be 
T  t  extended 


354  A  H  i  S  T  O  R  Y   OF  Period  III. 

extended  to  all  nations,  and  the  whole  earth.  There 
are  many  pallages  of  fcripture  that  can  be  underllood 
in  no  other  fenfe.  What  can  be  more  univerfal  than 
that  in  If.  xi.  9.  "  For  the  earth  (hall  be  full  of  the 
*'  knowledge  of  the  Loid,  as  the  waters  cover  the  fea." 
As  much  as  to  fay,  As  there  is  no  part  of  the  channel  or 
cavity  of  the  fea  any  where,  but  what  is  covered  with 
water  ;  fo  there  fhall  be  no  part  of  the  world  of  mankind 
but  what  (hall  be  covered  with  the  knowledge  of  God. 
So  it  is  foretold  in  If.  xlv.  22.  that  all  the  ends  of  the 
earth  fhall  look  to  Chriil,  and  be  faved.  And  to  fhow 
that  the  words  are  to  be  undei  flood  in  the  mofl  univer- 
fal fenfe,  it  is  faid  in  the  next  verfe,  "  I  have  fwornby 
*'  myfelf,  the  word  is  gone  out  of  my  mouth  in  righ- 
*'  teoufnefs,  and  fhall  not  return,  that  unto  me  every 
"  knee  fhall  bow,  every  tongue  fhall  fwear." 

So  tl;>e  moft  univerfal  exprefTion  is  ufed,  Dan.  vii.  27, 
*'  And  the  kingdom  and  dominion,  and  the  greatnefs 
'*  of  the  kingdom  under  the  whole  Heaven,  fliall  be 
*'  given  to  the  people  of  the  faints  of  the  Mofl  High 
"  God."  You  fee  the  exprefnon  includes  all  under 
the  7vJiole  Heaven. 

When  the  devil  was  caff  out  of  the  Roman  empire,- 
becaufe  that  was  the  highefl  and  principal  part  of  the 
world,  and  the  other  nations  that  were  left  were  low 
and  mean  in  comparifon  of  thofe  of  that  em.pire,  it  was 
reprefented  as  Satan's  being  caff  out  of  Heaven  to  the 
earth.  Rev.  xii.  9.  but  it  is  reprefented  that  he  fhall 
be  caff  out  of  the  earth  too,  and  fliut  up  in  hell.  Rev. 

XX.  1.  2.  3, This  is  the  greateft  revolution  by  far 

that  ever  came  to  pafs :  therefore  it  is  faid  in  R.ev.  xvi. 
17.  18.  That  on  the  pouring  out  of  the  feventh  vial, 
there  was  a  great  earthquake,  fuch  as  was  not  fines 
men  \verc  upon  earth,  fo  mighty  an  earthquake  and  fo 
great.  And  this  is  the  third  great  difpenfation  of  pro- 
vidence which  is  in  fcripture  compared  to  Chrifl's  com- 
ing to  judgment.  So  it  is  in  Rev.  xvi.  15.  There, 
after  the  fixth  vial,  and  after  the  devil's  armies  were  ga- 
thered together  to  their  great  battle,  and  jufl  before 
Chrifl's  glorious  viftory  over  them,  it  is  faid,  "  Behold 
*'  I  come  quickly ;  bleffed  is  he  that  watclieth,  and 
"  keepeth  his  garments."  So  it  is  called  Chrijl's  coining 
in  2  Thef,  ii.  8.     Speaking  of  Antichrifl,  it  is   faid, 

"  And 


Part  II.  1.     The  Wo'rk  OF  REDEMPTION.    3,55 

"  And  then  fliall  that  wicked  be  revealed,  whom  the 
*'  Lord  fhall  conhime  with  the  fpirit  of  his  mouth,  and 
^'  fhall  dcftroy  with  the  brightnefs  of  his  coming."  Scii 
alfo  Dan.  vii.  13.  14.  where  Ciirifl's  coming  to  fet  up 
his  kingdom  on  earth,  and  to  defhoy  An;ichrif^,  is  c-il!- 
ed  coming  7uitk  clouds  of  Heaven.  And  this  is  more  like 
Chrift's  lafl  coming  to  judgment,  than  any  of  the  pre- 
ceding difpenfations  which  are  fo  called,  on  thefe  ac- 
counts. 

(1)  That  the  difpenfation  is  fo  much  greater  and 
more  univerfal,  and  fo  more  like  the  day  of  judgment, 
which  refpecfs  the  whole  world. 

(2)  On  account  of  the  great  fpiritual  rcfurrefliou 
there  will  be  of  the  churcli  of  God  accompanying  it, 
more  refembling  the  general  refurrecfiou  at  the  end  of 
the  world  than  any  other.  This  fpiritual  refurre^tion, 
is  the  refurreftion  fpoken  of  as  attended  with  judg- 
ment, Rev.  XX.  4. 

(3)  Becaufe  of  the  terrible  judgments  and  fearful 
deitruftion  which  fhall  now  be  executed  on  God's  ene- 
mies. There  will  doubtlefs  at  the  introducing  of  this 
difpenfation  be  a  vifible  and  awful  hand  of  God  againft 
blafphemers,  Deifts,  and  obflinate  heretics,  and  other 
enemies  of  Chrift,  terribly  deftroying  them,  with  re- 
markable tokens  of  wrath  and  vengeance ;  and  efpe- 
cially  will  this  difpenfation  be  attended  with  terrible 
judgments  on  Antichrifl ;  and  the  cruel  perfecutcrs 
who  belong  to  the  church  of  Rome,  fhall  in  a  moll  aw- 
ful m.anner  be  deftroycd ;  which  is  compared  to  a  call- 
ing of  Antichrill  into  ihe  burning  flame,  Dan.  vii.  11. 
and  to  calling  him  alive  into  the  lake  that  burns  with 
iire  and  brim.llone,  Rev.  xix.  20. 

Then  fhall  this  cruel  perfecuting  church  fuffer  thofe 
judgments  from  God,  which  Chall  be  far  more  dread- 
ful than  her  crueleft  perfecution  of  the  faints,  agreea- 
ble to  Rev.  xviii.  6.  7. The  judgments  which  God 

fhall  execute  on  the  enemies  of  tlie  church,  are  fo  great^ 
that  tbev  are  compared  to  God's  fending  great  hail- 
ffones  from  Heaven  upon  them,  every  one  ot  the  weight 
of  a  talent,  as  it  is  faid  on  the  pouring  out  of  the  fe- 
venth  vial,"  Rev.  xvi.  21.  "  And  there  fell  upon  men  a 
"  great  hail  out  of  Heaven,  every  ffone  ahfnit  the 
''  weight  of  a  talent :  and  men  blaf]>hemed  God,  bc^ 
T  t  2  "  caufc 


5^6  A  HISTORY  OF  Period  III. 

•*  caiife  of  the  plague  of  the  hail ;  for  the  plague  thercr 
*'  of  was  exceeding  great,"  And  now  fhall  be  that 
treading  of  the  wine-prefs  fpoken  of,  Rev.  xiv.  ig.  20. 

(4)  This  fhall  put  an  end  to  the  church's  fuffering 
flate,  and  fhall  be  attended  with  their  glorious  and  joy- 
ful praifes.  The  church's  afFiifted  flate  is  long,  being 
continued,  excepting  force  fhort  intermiflions,  from  the 
refurreftion  of  Chrill  to  this  time.  But  now  fhall  a  fi- 
nal end  be  put  to  her  fuffering  Hate.  Indeed  after  this 
near  the  end  of  the  world,  the  church  fhall  be  greatly 
threatened ;  but  it  is  faid,  it  fhall  be  but  for  a  little  fear 
fon.  Rev.  xx.  3.  for  as  the  times  of  the  church's  refl 
are  but  fhort,  before  the  long  day  of  her  afflictions 
are  at  an  end  ;  fo  whatever  affliftion  fhe  may  fuffer  after 
this,  it  will  be  very  Ihort ;  but  otherwife  the  day  of  the 
church's  affliction  and  perfecution  fhall  now  come  to  a 
final  end.  The  fcriptures,  in  many  places,  fpeak  of 
this  time  as  the  end  of  the  fuffering  flate  of  the  church. 
So  If.  li.  22.  God  fays  to  his  church  w^ith  refpeft  to 
this  time,  "  Behold,  I  have  taken  out  of  thine  hand  the 
•'  cup  of  trembling,  even  the  dregs  of  the  cup  of  my 

•'  fury,  thou  fhalt  no  more  drink  it  again." Then 

fhall  that  be  proclaimed  to  the  church,  If.  xl.  1.  2. 
*'  Comibrt  ye,  comifort  ye  ^ly  people,  faith  your  God. 
•'  Speak  ye  comfortably  to  Jerufalem,  and  cry  unto 
*'  her,  that  her  warfare  is  accomplifhed,  that  her  iniqui- 
*'  ty  is  pardoned  :  for  fhe  hath  received  of  the  Lord's 
*'  hand  double  for  all  her  fins."  Alfo  that  in  If.  liv. 
8.  o.  belongs  to  this  time.  And  fo  that  in  If.  Ix.  20. 
*'  The  Lord  fhall  be  thine  everlafting  light,  and  the 
*'  days  of  thy  mourning  fhall  be  ended."  And  fo  Zeph. 
iii.  15.  "  The  Lord  hath  taken  away  thy  judgments, 
"  he  hath  caff  out  thine  enemy :  the  King  of  Ifrael, 
**  even  the  Lord,  is  in  the  midft  of  thee  :  thou  fhalt 
*'  not  fee  evil  any  more." 

The  time  which  had  been  before  this,  had  been  the 
church's  fowing-time,  wherein  fhe  fowed  in  tears  and  in 
blood ;  but  now  is  her  harveff,  wherein  fhe  will  come 
again  rejoicing,  bringing  her  fheaves  with  her.  Now 
the  time  of  the  travail  of  the  woman  cloathed  with  the 
fun  is  at  an  end  :  now  fhe  hath  brought  forth  her  fon; 
f'jr  this  glorious  fetting  up  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift 
•li.'ougl]  the  world,  is  what  the  church  had  been  in  tra- 
vail 


Part II.  J.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     357 

vail  for,  with  fuch  terrible  pangs,  for  fo  many  ages: 
Jf.  xxvi.  17.  "  Like  as  a  woman  with  cliild  tliat  draw- 
"  eth  near  the  time  of  her  dehvc.y,  is  in  pain,  and 
*'  crieth  out  in  her  pangs ;  fo  have  we  been  in  thy  fighr, 
*'  O  Lord."  See  If.  Ix.  20.  and  Ixi.  10.  11. — ^^— And 
now  the  church  fhall  forget  her  foirow,  fmce  a  man- 
child  is  born  intq  the  world  :  now  fuccecd  her  jo)  fiil 
praife  and  triumph.  Her  prailes  fhall  then  go  up  to 
God  from  all  parts  of  the  earth  ;  as  If.  xlii.  10.  11.  12. 
And  praife  fliall  not  only  fill  the  earth,  but  alfo  Kca- 
yen.  The  church  on  earth,  aqd  the  church  in  Heaven, 
fhall  both  glorioufly  rejoice  and  praife  God,  as  with  one 
heart,  on  that  occafioii.  Without  doubt  it  will  be  a 
time  of  very  diflinguiflied  joy  and  praife  among  the  ho- 
ly prophets  and  apoflles,  and  the  other  faints  in  Hea- 
ven: Rev.  xviii.  20.  "  Rejoice  over  her,  thou  Heaven, 
*'  and  ye  holy  apoRles  and  prophets,  for  God  liatli  a- 
"  vengcd  you  on  her."  See  how  univerfal  thefepraifcs 
will  be  in  If.  xliv.  23.  *'  Sing,  O  ye  Heavens,  for  the 
*'  Lord  hath  done  it :  fhout,  ye  lower  parts  of  the  earth : 
*'  break  forth  into  fmging,  ye  mounialns,  Oforcfl,  and 
"  every  tree  therein :  for  the  Lord  hath  redeemed  Ja- 
"  cob,  and  glorified  himfelf  in  Ifrael."  See  what  jo)'ful 
praifes  are  fung  to  God  on  this  occafion  by  the  univer- 
fal church  in  Heaven  and  earth,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
19th  chapter  of  Revelation. 

(5)  This  difpenfation  is  above  all  preceding  ones  like 
Chrifl's  coming  to  judgment,  in  that  it  fo  puts  an  end 
to  the  former  if  ate  of  the  world,  and  introduces  the 
everlafting  kingdom  of  Chriff.  Now  Satan's  vifible 
kingdom  ihall  be  overthrown,  after  it  had  flood  ever 
fmce  the  building  of  Babel ;  and  the  old  Heavens  and 
the  old  earth  fliall  in  a  greater  meafure  be  paffed  away 
then  than  before,  and  the  new  Heavens  and  new  earth 
fet  up  in  a  far  m.ore  glorious  manner  than  ever  be- 
fore. 

Thus  I  have  fhown  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrifl's  pur- 
chafe  has  been  carried  on  through  the  times  of  the  af- 
fii6led  ftate  of  the  Chrillian  church,  from  Chrifl's  rc- 
furre^tion,  till  Antichrifl  is  fallen,  and  Satan's  vifible 
kingdom  on  earth  is  overthrown. — Therefore  I  come 
^ow, 

Second  L\\ 


3^8  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  IIL 

Secondly,  to  fhow  how  the  fuccefs  of  redemption 
will  be  carried  on  through  that  fpace  wherein  the  Chri- 
ftian  church  fhall  for  the  moll  part  be  in  a  ftateof  peace 
and  profperity.     And  in  order  to  this,  I  would, 

1.  Speak  of  the  profperous  ftate  of  the  church 
through  the  greater  part  of  this  period. 

2.  Of  the  great  apoflafy  there  fhall  be  towards  the 
clofe  of  it :  how  greatly  then  the  church  fliall  be  threat- 
ened by  her  enemies  for  a  Ihort  time. 

I.  I  would  fpeak  of  the  profperous  Itate  of  the 
church  through  the  greater  part  of  this  period.  And 
in  doing  this,  I  would,  i.  Defcribe  this  profperous  ftate 
of  the  church  ;   2.  Say  fomething  of  its  duration. 

ly/?,  I  would  defcribe  the  profperous  Hate  the  church 
fhall  be  in. 

And,  in  the  general,  I  v»^ould  obferve  two  things. 

1.  That  this  is  mofl  properly  the  time  of  the  king- 
clom  of  Heaven  upon  earth.  Though  the  kingdom  of 
Heaven  was  in  a  degree  fet  up  foon  after  Chrift's  re- 
furreclion,  and  in  a  further  degree  in  the  time  of  Con- 
ftantine ;  and  though  the  Chrifaan  church  in  all  ages 
of  it,  is  called  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  ;  yet  this  time 
that  we  are  upon,  is  the  principal  time  of  the  kingdom 
of  Heaven  upon  earth,  the  time  principally  intended 
by  the  prophecies  of  Daniel,  which  fpeak  of  the  king- 
dom of  Heaven,  whence  the  Jews  took  the  name  of 
the  kingdom  of  Heaven. 

2.  Now  is  the  principal  fulfilment  of  all  the  prophe- 
cies, of  the  Old  Teflament  which  fpeak  of  the  glorious 
times  of  the  gofpel  which  fhall  be  in  the  latter  days. 
Though  there  has  been  a  glorious  fulfilment  of  thofe 
prophecies  already,  in  the  times  of  the  apofilcs,  and  of 
Conflantine ;  yet  the  exprefTions  are  two  high  to  fuit 
any  other  time  entirely,  but  that  which  is  to  fucceed 
the  fall  of  Antichrift.  This  is  mofl  properly  the  glo- 
rious day  of  the  gofpel.  Other  times  are  only  forerun- 
ners and  preparatories  to  this :  other  times  were  the 
feed-time,  but  this  is  the  harvefl. But  more  parti- 
cularly, 

(i)  It  will  be  a  time  of  great  light  and  knowledge. 
The  prefent  days  are  days  of  darkncfs,  in  comparifou 
of  thofe  days.  The  light  of  that  glorious  time  fhall  be 
fo  great,  that  it  is  rcprefented  as  though  there  fliould 
then  be  no  night,  but  only  day  ;  no  evening  nor  dark- 
ncfs. 


Pan II.  1.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     359 

nefs.  So  Zech.  xiv.  6.  7.  "  And  it  (liall  come  to  pafs 
*'  in  that  day,  that  the  hght  fliali  not  he  clear,  nor  dark. 
•'  But  it  fhail  be  one  day,  which  (liali  be  known  to  the 
*'  Lord,  not  day,  nor  night:  but  it  lliall  come  to  pafs, 
"  that  at  evening  time  it  fhall  be  light." It  is  fur- 
ther reprefented,  as  though  God  would  then  give  fucU 
light  to  his  church,  that  it  fhould  fo  much  exceed  the 
glory  of  the  light  of  the  fun  and  moon,  that  they  ihould 
be  aflidmed  :  If.  xxiv.  23.  "  Then  the  moon  fhall  be 
*'  confounded,  and  the  fun  afhamcd,  wlien  the  Lord 
**  of  hofls  lliall  reign  in  Mount  Zion,  and  in  Jcrufa- 
"  lem,  and  before  his  ancients  glorioufly."' 

There  is  a  kind  of  veil  now  calt  over  the  greater  part 
of  the  world,  which  keeps  them  in  darknefs  :  but  then 
this  veil  fhall  be  deftroyed  :  If.  xxv.  7.  "  And  he  will 
*'  deftroy  in  this  mountain  the  face  of  the  covering  cafl 
"  over  all  people,  and  the  veil  that  is  fpread  over  all 
*'  nations."  And  then  all  countries  and  nations,  even 
thofe  which  are  now  moll  ignorant,  Jhall  be  full  of 
light  and  knowledge.  Great  knowledge  fhall  prevail 
every  where.  It  may  be  hoped,  that  then  many  of  the 
Negroes  and  Indians  will  be  divines,  and  that  excellent 
books  will  be  publifhed  in  Africa,  in  Ethiopia,  inTar- 
tary,  and  other  now  the  mofl  barbarous  countries ;  and 
not  only  learned  men,  but  others  of  more  ordinary  edu- 
cation, fhall  then  be  very  knowing  in  religion :  If. 
xxxii.  3.  4.  "  The  eyes  of  them  that  fee,  fhall  not  be 
*'  dim;  and  the  ears  of  them  that  hear,  fliall  hearken. 
"  The  heart  alfo  of  the  rafh  fliall  underfland  know- 
*'  ledge."  Knowledge  then  fhall  be  very  univerfal  a- 
mong  all  forts  of  perfons  ;  agreeable  to  Jer.  xxxi.  34. 
"  And  they  lliall  teach  no  more  every  man  his  neigh- 
*'  hour,  and  every  man  his  brother,  faying,  Know  the 
"  Lord  :  for  they  fhall  all  know  me,  from  the  leafl  of 
*'  them  unto  the  greateft  of  them." 

There  fliall  then  be  a  v/onderful  unravelling  of  the 
difhcultics  in  the  doftrines  of  religion,  and  clearing  up 
of  feeming  inconfiflencies  :  "  So  crooked  things  fhail 
*'  be  made  flraight,  and  rough  places  fliall  be  made  plain, 
*'  and  darknefs  fhall  become  light  before  God's  pco- 
*'  pie."  DifHculties  in  fcripturc  fliall  then  be  cleared 
up,  and  wonderful  tilings  fliall  be  difcovercd  in  tlic 
word  of  God,   wiiich  \vcrc   never  difcovcred   before. 

The 


300  A    HISTORY    of  Period  lli. 

The  great  difcoveiy  of  tbofe  things  in  rehgion  which 
had  been  before  kept  hid,  feems  to  be  compared  to  re- 
moving the  veil,  and  difcovering  the  ark  of  the  telli- 
jnony  to  the  people,  wliich  before  ufed  to  be  kept  in 
the  fecret  part  of  the  temple,  and  was  never  feen  by 
them.  Thus  at  the  founding  of  the  feventh  angeJ, 
when  it  is  proclaimed,  "  that  the  kingdoms  of  this 
"  world  are  become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and  of 
"  his  Chriil;"  it  is  added,  that  "the  temple  of  God 
"  was  opened  in  Heaven,  and  there  was  feen  in  his  tem- 
"  pie  the  ark  of  his  teftament."  So  great  fhall  be  the 
increafe  of  knowledge  in  this  time,  that  Heaven  fhall 
be  as  it  were  opened  to  the  church  of  God  on  earth. 

(^2)  It  Ihaii  be  a  time  of  great  holinefs.     Now  vital 
religion  fhall  every  where  prevail  and  reign.    Religion 
fhall  not  be  an  empty  profefhon,  as  it  now  moftly  is, 
but  holinefs  of  heart  and  life  fhall  abundantly  prevail. 
Thofe  times  fhall  be  an  exception  from  what  Chrifl  fays 
of  the  ordinary  {fate  of  the  church,  viz.   that  there 
fnall  be  but  few  faved  ;    for  now  holinefs  fhall  become 
general :  If.  Ix.  21.  "  Thy  people  alfo  fhall  be  all  righ- 
**  teous."     Not  that  there  will  be  none  remaining  in  a 
Chriftlefs  condition  ;  but  that  vifible  wickednefs  fhall  be 
fuppreffed  every  where,  and  true  holinefs  fhall  become 
general,  though  not  univerfal.     And  it  fhall  be  a  won- 
derful time,  not  only  for  the  multitude  of  godly  men, 
but  foreminency  of  grace  :  If.  Ixv.  20.     "  There  flialf 
*'  be  no  more  thence  an  infant   of  days,  nor  an   old 
"  man  that  hath  not  filled  his  days  :  for  the  child  fhall 
"  die  an  hundred   years  old,  but  the  fmner  being  an 
"  hundred  years  old,  fhall  be  accurfed."     And  Zech. 
xii.  8.  *'  He  that  is  feeble  among  them  at  that  day  fhall 
"  be  as  David  ;  and  the  houfe  of  David  fhall  be  as  God, 
"  as  the  angel  of  the  Lord  before  them."     And  holi- 
nefs fhall  then  be  as  it  were  infcribed  on  every  thing  on 
all  mens  common  bufmefs  and  emiployments,    and  the 
common  utenfils  of  life  :  all  fhall  be  as  it  were  dedica- 
ted to  God,  and  applied  to  holy  purpofes  :  every  thing 
fhall  then  be  done  to  the  glory  of  God  :  If.  xxiii.  18. 
*'  And  her  merchandife  and  her  hire  fhall  be  holinefs 

*'  to  the  Lord."     And  fo  Zech.  xiv.  20.  21. And 

as  God's  people  then  fliall  be  eminent  in  holinefs  of 

heart, 


Part II.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     361 

heart,  fo  they  fhall  be  alfo  in  holinefs  of  life  and  prac- 
tice. 

(3)  It  fliall  be  a  time  wherein  religion  fhall  in  every 
refpecl:  be  uppermoft  in  the  world.  It  Ihall  be  had  in 
great  elleem  and  honour.  The  faints  have  hitherto  for 
the  moft  part  been  kept  under,  and  wicked  men  have 
governed.  But  now  they  will  be  uppermoft.  The  king- 
dom (liall  be  given  into  the  hands  of  the  faints  of  the 
«'  Moft  High  God,"  Dan.  vii.  27.  "  And  they  ihall 
*'  reign  on  earth,"  Rev.  v.  10.  "They  Ihall  live  and 
*'  reign  with  Chrift  a  thoufand  years,"  Rev.  xx.  4.  la 
that  day,  fuch  perfons  as  are  eminent  for  true  piety  and 
religion,  fhall  be  chiefly  promoted  to  places  of  trult  and 
authority.  Vital  religion  fhall  then  take  poffeftion  of 
kings  palaces  and  thrones;  and  thofe  who  are  in  high- 
eft  advancement  fliall  be  holy  men :  If.  xlix.  23. 
*'  And  kings  fhall  be  thy  nurfing-fathers,  and  their 
"  queens  thy  nurfmg  mothers."  Kings  fhall  employ  all 
their  power,  and  glory,  and  riches,  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  honour  and  glory  of  Chrift,  and  the  good 
of  his  church:  If.  Ix.  16.  "Thou  (halt  alfo  fuck  the 
"  milk  of  the  Gentiles,  and  fhall  fuck  the  breafts  of 
*'  kings."  And  the  great  men  of  the  world,  and  the 
rich  merchants,  and  others  who  have  great  wealth  aiid 
influenccj  fhall  devote  all  to  Chrift  and  his  church  : 
Pfal.  xlv.  12.  "  The  daughter  of  Tyre  fhall  be  there 
"  with  a  gift,  even  the  rich  among  the  people  fhall 
*'  intreat  thy  favour." 

(4)  Thofe  will  betimes  of  great  peace  and  love. 
There  fhall  then  be  univerfal  peace  and  a  good  under- 
flanding  among  the  nations  of  the  world,  inftead  of 
fuch  confufion,  wars,  and  blood-fhed,  as  has  hitherto 
been  from  one  age  to  another  :  If.  ii.  4.  "And  he  fhall 
"  judge  among  the  nations,  and  fhall  rebuke  many  peo- 
"  pie  :  and  they  fhall  beat  their  fwords  into  plow-lharcs, 
*'  and  their  fpears  into  pruning-hooks :  nation  fhall  not 
*'  lift  up  fword  againft  nation,  neither  fhall  they  learn 
"  war  any  more."  So  it  is  rcpreftnted  as  it  all  inltru- 
mcnts  of  war  fhould  be  dcllroyed,  as  being  become  ufe- 
lefs:  Pfal.  xlvi/9.  "  He  maketh  wars  toceafe  unto  the  end 
"  of  the  earth :  he  breaketh  the  bow  and  cutteth  the 
"  fpear  in  funder,  he  burneth  the  chariot  in  the  fire." 
See  alfo  Zech.  i.x.  10,     Then  fimli  i»ll  nawons  dwell 

U  n  quietly 


362  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  IIL 

quietly  and  fafely,  without  fear  of  any  enemy.  IL 
xxxii.  18.  *'  And  my  people  fhall  dwell  in  a  peaceable 
•'  habitation,  and  in  fure  dwellings,  and  in  quiet  rell- 
*'  ing  places."     Alfo  Zech.  viii.  10.  11. 

And  then  fhall  malice,  and  envy,  and  wrath,  and  re- 
venge, be  fupprelTed  every  where,  and  peace  and  love 
fhall  prevail  between  one  man  and  another  ;  which  is 
mod  elegantly  fet  forth  in  If.  xi,  6. — 10.  Then  fhall 
there  be  peace  and  love  between  rulers  and  ruled.  Ru- 
lers fliall  love  their  people,  and  with  all  their  might  feek 
their  beft  good  ;  and  the  people  (liall  love  their  rulers,, 
and  fhall  joyfully  fubmit  to  them,  and  give  them  that 
honour  which  is  their  due.  And  fo  fhall  there  be  ant 
happy  love  between  miniflers  and  their  people  :  Mai. 
iv.  6.  "  And  he  fhall  turn  the  heart  of  the  fathers  to  the 
*'  children,  and  the  heart  of  the  children  to  their  fa- 
*'  thers."  Then  fhall  flourifh  in  an  eminent  manner 
thofe  Chriflian  virtues  of  meeknefs,  forgivenefs,.  long- 
fufferlng,  gentlenefs,  goodnefs,  brotherly-kindnefs,  thofe- 
excellent  fruits  of  the  Spirit. Men,  in  their  tem- 
per and  difpofition,  fliall  then  be  like  the  Lamb  of  God, 
the  lovely  Jefus.  The  body  fliall  be  conformed  to  the 
head. 

Then  fhall  all  the  world  be  united  in  one  amiable  fch- 
ciety.  All  nations,  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  on  every 
lidc  of  the  globe,  fhall  then  be  knit  together  in  fweet 
harmony.  All  parts  of  God's  church  fhall  afTiIl  and 
promote  the  fpiritual  good  of  one  another.  A  com- 
munication fliall  then  be  upheld  between  all  parts  of 
the  world  to  that  end ;  and  the  art  of  navigation,  which 
is  now  applied  fo  much  to  favour  mens  covetoufnefs 
and  pride,  and  is  ufed  fo  much  by  wicked  debauched 
men,  fhall  then  be  confecrated  to  God,  and  applied  to 

holy  ufes,  as  we  read  in  If.  Ix.  5. — 9. And  it  will 

then  be  a  time  wherein  men  will  be  abundant  in  expref- 
Jing  their  love  one  to  another,  not  only  in  words,  but 
in  deeds  of  charity,  as  we  learn,  If.  xxxii.  5.  "  The 
*'  vile  pcrfon  fliall  be  no  more  called  liberal,  nor  the 
*'  churl  faid  to  be  bountiful ;"  and,  verf  8.  But  the 
'*  liberal  devifeth  liberal  things,  and  by  liberal  things 
"  fhall  he  ftand." 

(,5)  It  will  be  a  time  of  excellent  order  in  the  church 
©f  Ciirifl.     The  true  government  and  difcipline  of  the- 

church 


part II.  u    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     363 

church  will  then  be  fettled  and  put  into  praflice.  All 
the  world  fhall  then  be  as  one  church,  one  ordeily,  re- 
gular, beautiful  fociety.  And  as  the  body  fhall  be  one, 
fo  the  members  Ihall  be  in  beautiful  proportion  to  each 
other.  Then  fliall  that  be  verified  in  Pfal.  cxxii.  3. 
*'  Jerufalem  is  builded  as  a  city,  that  is  compact  toro- 
♦'  ther." 

(6)  The  church  of  God  fhall  then  be  beautiful  and 
glorious  on  thcfe  accounts ;  yea,  it  will  appear  in  per- 
feftion  of  beauty  :  If.  Ix.  1.  *' Arife,  fliine,  for  thy 
"  light  is  come,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is  rifen  up- 
♦'  on  thee."  If.  Ixi,  10.  "  He  hath  covered  me  with  the 
♦*  robe  of  righteoufnefs,  as  a  bridegroom  decketh  him- 
<*  felf  with  ornaments,  and  as  a  bride  adorneth  herfelf 
♦*  with  her  jewels."  On  thefe  foremcntioned  accounts, 
the  church  will  then  be  the  greateft  image  of  Heaven 
itfelf. 

(7)  That  will  be  a  time  of  the  greateft  temporal  pro- 

fperity. Such   a   fpiritual  ftate  as  we  have  juft  de- 

fcribed,  has  a  natural  tendency  to  temporal  profpe- 
rity :  it  has  a  tendency  to  health  and  long  life  ;  and 
that  this  v/ill  aftually  be  the  cafe,  is  evident  by  Zcch. 
viii.  4.  "  Thus  faith  the  Lord  of  hofls.  There  ihall  yet 
*'  old  men  and  old  women  dwell  in  the  llreets  of  Jeru- 
*'  falem,  and  every  man  with  his  ftaff  in  his  hand  for 
*'  very  age."  It  has  alfo  a  natural  tendency  to  procure 
eafe,  quietnefs,  pleafantnefs,  and  chearfulnefs  of  mind, 
and  alfo  wealth,  and  great  increafe  of  children ;  as  is 
intimated  in  Zech.  viii.  ^,  "And  the  flreets  of  the  city 
•'  fhall  be  full  of  boys  and  girls,  playing  in  the  ftreets 

"  thereof." But  further,  the  temporal  profperity  of 

the  people  of  God  will  alfo  be  promoted  by  a  remark- 
able blefhng  from  Heaven,  If.  Ixv.  21.  "  They  fhall 
*'  build  houfes,  and  inhabit  them  ;  and  they  fliall  plant 
^'  vineyards,  and  eat  the  fruit  of  them."  And  in  Mic. 
iv.  4.  '*  But  they  fhall  fit  every  man  under  his  vine, 
"  and  under  his  fia-tree,  and  none  Ihall  make  them  a- 
"  fraid."  Zech.  viii.  12.  "  For  the  feed  Ihall  be  pro- 
"  fperous,  the  vine  fhall  give  her  fruit,  and  the  ground 
•'  Ihall  give  her  increafe,  and  the  Heavens  fliall  give 
"  their  dew,  and  I  will  caufe  the  remnant  of  this  peo- 
*'  pie  to  poffefs  all  thefe  things."  See  alfo  Jer.  xxxi. 
12.  13.  and  Amos  ix.  i-^.     Yea  then  they  ihall  receive 

U'  u  3  all 


364  A  HISTORY  QF  Period IIL 

all  manner  of  tokens  of  God's  prefence,  and  accept- 
ance, and  favour  :  Jer.  xxxiii.  9.  **  And  it  fliall  be  to 
^'  me  a  name  of  joy,  a  praife  and  an  honour  before  all 
"  the  nations  of  the  earth,  which  fliall  hear  all  the 
*'  good  that  I  do  unto  them  :  and  they  fhall  fear  and 
'•  tremble  for  all  the  goodnefs  and  for  all  the  profpe- 
"  rity  that  I  procure  unto  it."  Even  the  days  of  Solo- 
mon were  but  an  image  of  thofe  days,  as  to  the  tempo- 
ral pfofperity  \yhich  Ihall  obtain  in  them. 

(8)  It  will  alfo  be  a  time  of  great  rejoicing:  If.  xxxv. 
10.  "  And  the  ranfomed  of  the  Lord  fhall  return  and 
*'  come  to  Zion  with  fongs,  and  everlafling  joy  upon 
*'  their  heads  :  they  fliall  obtain  joy  and  gladnefs,  and 
"  forrow  and  fighing  Ihall  flee  away."  Chap.  Iv.  12. 
**  For  ye  fhall  go  out  Mnth  joy,  and  be  led  forth  with 
*'  peace :  the  mountains  and  the  hills  fhall  break  forth 
*'  before  you."  Chap.  Ixvi.  n.  "  That  ye  may  fuck,  and 
"  be  fatisfied  with  the  breafjs  of  her  confolations  :  that 
*'  ye  may  milk  out,  and  be  delighted  with  the  abundance 
*'  of  her  glory."     Chap.  xii.  3.   "  With  joy  fhall  ye 

*'  draw  water  out  of  the  wells  of  falvation." Then 

will  be  a  time  of  feafting.  That  v/ill  be  the  church's 
glorious  wedding-day,  fo  far  as  her  wedding  with  Chrift 
ihall  ever  be  upon  earth :  Rev.  xix.  7.  "  Let  us  be  glad 
*'  and  rejoice,  and  give  honour  to  him ;  for  the  mar- 
*'  riage  of  the  Lanib  is  come,  and  his  wife  hath  made 
*'  herfelf  ready."  Verf.  9.  *' BlefTed  are  they  which 
"  are  called  to  the  marriage-fupper  of  the  Lamb." — : 
But  I  come  now, 

<2.dly.  To  fay  fomething  of  the  duration  of  this  flate 
of  the  church's  profperity.  On  this  I  fhall  be  very  brief. 
The  fcriptures  every  where  reprefent  it  to  be  of  long 
continuance.  The  former  intervals  of  reft  and  profpe- 
rity, as  we  before  obferved,  are  reprefented  to  be  but 
fliort ;  but  the  reprefentations  of  this  ftate  are  quite  dif^ 
ferent :  Rev.  xx.  4.  "  And  I  faw  the  fouls  of  them  that 
*'  were  beheaded  for  the  witnefs  of  Jefus, — and  they 
"  lived  and  reigned  \^\\)[\  Q\\x\^  a  tJiovfand  years''  If. 
Ix.  15.  "  Whereas  thou  haft  been  forfaken  and  hated, 
"  {o  that  no  man  went  through  thee,  I  will  make  thee  an 
/'  eternal  excellency,  a  joy  oi  many  generations T 

This  may  fuffice  as  to  the  profperous  ftate  of  the 
f  hurch  through  the  greater  p.art  of  the  period  from  th^ 

deftruftion 


Part  II.  1.   The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.     o,6r. 


o 


definition  of  Satan's  vifiblc  kingdom  in  the  woild  to 
Chrilt's  appearing  in  the  clouds  of  Heaven  to  judgment. 

II.  I  now  come  to  fpeak  of  the  great  apofiafy  there 
fhould  be  towards  the  clofe  of  this  peiiod,  and  how 
eminently  the  church  Ihould  be  for  a  fhort  time  thrcat- 
<ened  by  her  enemies.  And  this  I  Ihall  do  under  three 
particulars, 

1.  A  li,ttle  before  the  end  of  the  world,  tliere  fhall 
.be  a  very  great  apoflaf)-,  wherein  great  part  of  the 
world  fliall  iall  away  from  Chrifl  and  liis  chinch.  It  is 
faid  in  Rev.  xx.  3.  that  Satan  fhould  be  cafl  into  the 
hottomlefs  pit,  and  fhut  up,  and  have  a  feal  fet  upon 
liim,  that  he  fliould  deceive  the  nations  no  more  till 
the  thoufand  years  Ihould  be  fulfilled ;  and  that  after 
that  he  muft  be  loofed  out  of  his  prifon  for  a  little  fca- 
fon.  And  accordingly  we  are  told,  in  the  7th  and  8th 
verfes,  that  when  the  thoufand  years  arc  expired,  Satan 
fhall  be  loofed  out  of  his  prifon,  and  (hould  go  forth 
to  deceive  the  nations,  which  are  in  the  four  quarters 
,of  the  earth,  Gog  and  Magog.  Which  feems  to  Ihow 
as  though  the  apofiafy  would  be  very  general.  The 
nations  of  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth  (hall  be  de- 
ceived ;  and  the  number  of  thpfe  who  fhall  now  turn 
jenemies  to  Chrift  fhall  be  vafily  great,  as  the  army  of 
Gog  and  Magog  is  reprcfented  in  Ezekiel,  and  as  it  is 
faid  in  Rev.  xx.  8.  that  the  number  of  them  is  as  the 
fand  of  the  fea,  and  that  they  went  upon  the  breadth 
of  the  earth,  as  though  they  were  an  army  big  enough 
to  reach  from  one  fide  of  the  earth  to  the  other. 

Thus  after  fuch  an  happy  and  glorious  feafon  ;  fuch 
a  long  day  of  light  and  holinefs,  of  love,  and  peace, 
and  joy,  now  it  fhall  begin  again  to  be  a  dark  time. 
Satan  fliall  begin  to  fet  up  his  dominion  again  in  the 
world.  This  world  fhall  again  become  a  fcene  of  dark- 
nefs  and  wickednefs.  I'he  bottomlefs  pit  of, hell  fhall 
be  opened,  and  Devils  fliall  come  up  again  out  of  it, 
^nd  a  dreadful  fmoke  fhailafcend  to  darken  the  world. 
And  the  church  of  Chrifi,  infiead  of  extending  to  the 
ntmofl  bounds  of  the  world,  as  it  did  before,  fhall  be 
reduced  to  narrow  limits  again.  The  world  of  man- 
J;ind  being  continued  fo  long  in  a  ftate  of  fuch  great 
profperity,  fliall  now  begin  to  abufe  their  profpenty, 


366  A  H  I  S  T  O  jR  Y  OF  Perlodlll, 

to  ferve  their  lull  and  corruption,    This  we  learn  fronj 
Luke  xvii.  26.  &c. 

2.  Thofe  apoftates  fliall  make  great  oppofition  to  the 
church  of  God.  The  church  Ihall  feem  to  be  eminent* 
ly  threatened  with  a  fudden  and  entire  overthrow  by 
them.  It  is  faid,  Satan  fhall  gather  them  together  tp 
battle,  as  the  fand  on  the  fea  Ihore ;  and  they  went  up 
on  the  breadth  of  the  earth,  and  compafTed  the  camp 
of  the  faints  about,  and  the  beloved  city.  So  that  this 
beloved  city  fhall  feem  juft  ready  to  be  fwallowed  upby 
them  :  for  her  enemies  fhall  not  only  threaten  her,  but 
fhall  aftuaily  have  gathered  together  againft  her ;  and 
not  only  fo,  but  fhall  have  befieged  her,  fhali  have 
compafTed  her  about  on  every  fide. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  prophecy  which  feems  tQ 
hold  forth  as  though  the  church  had  aftually  fallen  into 
their  hands,  as  the  church  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
Antichrifl,  to  whom  it  was  given  to  make  war  with  the 
faints,  and  to  overcome  them.  God  will  never  fuffer 
this  to  be  again  after  the  fall  of  Antichrifl: ;  for  then 
the  day  of  her  mourning  fhall  be  ended.  But  the 
church  fliall  feem  mofl  eminently  threatened  with  utter 
and  fudden  deftruftion. 

3.  Now  the  flate  of  things  will  feem  mofl  remarks 
ably  to  call  for  Chrifl's  immediate  appearance  to  judg^ 
ment.  For  then  the  world  fhall  be  filled  with  the  mofl 
aggravated  wickednefs  that  ever  it  was.  For  much  the 
greater  part  of  the  world  fhall  have  become  vifibly  wick- 
ed and  open  enemies  to  Chrifl,  and  their  wickednefs 
^hall  be  dreadfully  aggravated  by  their  apoftafy.  Be- 
fore the  fall  of  Antichrifl,  mofl  of  the  world  was  full 
of  vifibly  wicked  men.  But  the  greater  part  of  thefe 
are  poor  Heathens,  who  never  enjoyed  the  light  of  the 
gofpel  ;  and  others  are  thofe  that  have  been  bred  up  in 
the  Mahometan  or  Popifli  darknefs.  But  thefe  are 
thofe  that  have  apoflatifed  from  the  Chriflian  church, 
and  the  vifible  kingdom  of  Chrifl,  in  which  they  en- 
joyed the  great  light  and  privileges  of  the  glorious  times, 
of  the  church,  which  fhall  be  incomparably  greater 
than  the  light  and  privileges  which  the  church  of  God 
enjoys  now.  This  apoflafy  will  be  mofl  like  the  apo- 
•flafy  of  the  Devils  of  any  that  ever  had  before  been : 
tor  the  Devils  apoflatifed,  and  turned  enemies  to  Chrifl, 

though 


Fart  It  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    367 

though  they  enjoyed  the  hght  of  Heaven ;  and  tbcftr 
tvill  apoflatife,  and  turn  enemies  to  him,  thougli  they 
have  enjoyed  the  Hght  and  privileges  of  the  glorious 
times  of  the  church.  That  fuch  fhould  turn  open  and 
avowed  enemies  to  Chrift,  and  fhould  feck  the  ruin  of 
his  church,  will  cry  aloud  for  fuch  immediate  venge- 
ance as  was  executed  on  the  Devils  when  they  fell. 

The  wickednefs  of  the  world  will  remarkably  call  for 
Chriil's   immediate  appearing  in   flaming  fire  to  take 
vengeance  on  them,  becaufe  of  tlie  way  in  which  they 
fhall  manifcil  their  wicl.ednefs,  w^hich  will  be  by  fcolf- 
ing  and  blafpheming  Chrift  and  his  holy  religion  ;  and 
particularly  they  will  feoff  at  the  notion  of  Chriil's  co- 
ming to  judgment,   of  which  the  church  will  be   in 
expetlation,  and  of  which  they  will  \v'arn  them.    Tor 
now  doubtlefs  will  be  another  fulfilment,  and  the  great- 
eft  fulfilment,  of  2  Pet.  iii.  3.  4.  "  Knowing  this  firlh 
*'  that  there  ihall  come  in  the  laft  days  fcoffers,  walk- 
*'  ing   after  their  own  lufts,  and  faying,  Where  is  the 
*'  promife  of  his  coming  ?    For  fince  the  fathers  fell 
•'  afleep,  all  things  continue  as  they  were  from  the  bc- 
*'  ginning  of  the  creation."     They  fhall  be  in  no  cx- 
pefctation   of  the  coming  of  Chrill  to  judgment,  and 
fhall  laugh  at  the  notion.     They  fhall  trample  all  fuch 
things  under  foot,  and  fhall  give  up  themfelves  to  their 
lufts,    or  to  eat   and  drink  and  wallov/  in  fcnfual   de- 
lights, as  though  they  were  to  be  here  forever.     They 
fhall  defpife  the  warnings  the  church  Ihall  give  them  of 
the  coming  of  Chrift  to  judgment,  as  the  people  of  the 
old  world  defpifed  what  Noah  told  them   of  the   ap- 
proaching flood,  and  as  the  people  of  Sodom  did  when 
Lot  faid  to   them,  *'  The  Lord  will  deftnjv  this  citw" 
Their   wickednefs  on  this  account  will  cry  aloud   to 
Heaven  for  Chrift's  appearing  in  flaming  lire  to  take 
vengeance  of  his  enemies ;    and  alio  becaufe  another 
way  that  they  fliali  exercife  their  wickednefs  will  be  i;v 
the  wricked  defign  and  \lolent  attempt  diey  fliail  be  en- 
gaged in  agalnft  the  holy  city  of  God,  againft  that  holv 
city,  wherein  lately,  and  for  fo  long  a  time,  fo  much 
of  the  religion  of  Chrift  had  been  k-cn.     They  UrAl 
then  be  about  to  perpetrate   the  mofi.  horrid    dcligii 
againft  this  church. 

And  the  numeroufncfs  of  the  wicked  that  fhall  then. 


t;'e. 


368  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  OF  Period  III, 

be,  is  another  thing  which  fhall  efpecially  call  for 
Chrilt's  coming  :  lor  the  world  will  doubtlefs  then  be 
exceeding  full  of  people,  having  continued  fo  long  in 
fo  great  a  Hate  of  proiperity,  without  fuch  terrible  de- 
folating  extremities,  as  wars,  peftilences,  and  the  like, 
to  dimmidi  them.  And  the  moft  of  this  world,  which 
fhall  be  fo  populous,  will  be  fuch  wicked  contemptuous 
apoftates  from  God.  Undoubtedly  that  will  be  a  day 
wherein  the  world  will  be  by  far  fuller  of  wickednefs 
than  ever  before  it  was  from  the  foundation  of  it.  And 
if  the  wickednefs  of  the  old  world,  when  men  began 
to  multiply  on  the  earth,  called  for  the  deftruftion  of 
the  W03  Id  i3y  a  deluge  of  waters,  this  wickednefs  will  as 
much  call  for  its  deltru6Hon  by  a  deluge  of  fire. 

Again,  the  circumftances  of  the  church  at  that  day 
will  alfo  eminently  call  for  the  immediate  appearing  of 
Chrift,  as  they  wdll  be  compaffed  about  by  their  blaf- 
phemous  murderous  enemies,  juft  ready  to  be  fwallow- 
ed  up  bv  them.  And  it  will  be  a  moft  diftrefTmg  time 
with  the  church,  excepting  the  comfort  they  will  have 
in  the  hope  of  deliverance  from  God :  for  all  other 
help  will  feem  to  fail.  The  cafe  will  be  come  to  the 
laft  extremity,  and  there  will  be  an  immediate  need  that 
Chrift  fliould  come  to  tlieir  deliverance.  And  though 
the  church  will  be  fo  eminently  threatened,  yet,  fo  will 
providence  order  it,  that  it  fhall  be  preferved  till  Chrift 
Jhall  appear  in  his  immediate  prefence,  coming  in  tlie 
glory  of  his  Father  with  all  his  holy  angels.  And  then 
will  come  the  time  when  all  the  ele61  fliall  be  gathered  in. 
That  work  of  converfion  which  has  been  carried  on  from 
the  beginning  of  the  church  after  the  fall  thro'  all  thofe 
ages,  ihail  be  carried  on  no  more.  There  never  fhall 
another  foul  be  converted.  Ever)'  one  of  thofe  many 
million-;,  whofe  names  were  written  in  the  book  of  life 
before  ihe  foundation  of  the  world,  fhall  be  brought 
in  ;  not  one  foul  fliall  be  loft.  And  the  myflical  body  of 
Chriif ,  which  has  been  growing  fince  it  firfl  began  in  the 
days  of  Adam,  will  be  complcat  as  to  number  of  parts 
having  every  one  of  its  members.  In  thisrefpecf,  the 
work  of  redemption  will  now  be  finifhcd.  And  now 
the  end  for  which  the  means  of  grace  have  been  infli- 
tuicd  ihajl  be  obtained.  All  that  efFeft  which  was  in- 
tended 


Partll.  1.     The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.   369 

jended  to  be  accomplifhed  by  them  fhall  now  be  ac- 
coinpliihed. 

SECT.        II. 

THUS  I  have  fhown  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrill's  rc« 
demption  has  been  accomphfhed  during  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  Chriftian  church  under  the  means  of 
grace.  We  have  feen  what  great  revolutions  there  have 
been^  and  are  to  be,  during  this  fpace  of  time  ;  how 
the  great  wheels  of  providence  have  gone  round  for  the 
accomplifhment  of  that  kind  of  fuccefs  of  Chrilt's 
purchafe,  which  confifts  in  the  beftowment  of  grace  on 
the  eleft  :  and  we  are,  in  the  profecution  of  the  fub- 
jeft,  come  to  the  time  when  all  the  wheels  have  gone 
round  ;  the  courfe  of  things  in  this  ftate  of  it  is  fimfti- 
ed,  and  all  things  are  ripe  for  Chrilt's  coming  to  judg- 
ment. 

You  may  remember,  that  when  I  began  to  difcourfe 
of  this  third  propofition,  viz.  That  from  the  refurrec- 
tion  of  Chrill  to  the  end  of  the  world,  the  whole  time 
is  taken  up  in  procuring  the  fuccefs  and  eft'eft  of  Chrill's 
purchafe  of  redemption,  I  obferved,  that  the  fuccefs  of 
Chrift's  purchafe  is  of  two  kinds,  confifting  either  in 
grace  or  glory ;  and  that  the  fuccefs  confifting  in  the 
former  of  thefe,  is  to  be  feen  in  thofe  works  of  God 
which  are  wrought  during  thofe  ages  that  the  church 
is  continued  under  the  means  of  grace ;  and  that  the 
{ucccfs,  confilling  in  the  latter,  will  chiefly  be  accom- 
plifhed at  the  day  of  judgment. 

Having  already  fliown  how  the  former  kind  of  fuc- 
cefs has  been  accomplifhed,  I  come  now,  in  the  fecond 
place  to  the  latter,  viz.  that  kind  of  fuccefs  which  is 
accompliflied  in  the  beflowment  of  glory  on  the  church, 
which  fhall  chiefly  be  bellowed  on  the  church   at  the 

day  of  judgment. And  here  1  would  mention  two 

or  three  things  in  the  general  concerning  this  kind  of 
fuccefs  of  Chrill's  purchafe. 

1.  How  great  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  is,  chief- 
ly appears  in  this.  The  fuccefs  of  Chrill's  purchafe 
does  fummarily  confill  in  the  falvation  of  the  ele^l.  But 
this  beftowment  of  glory  is  eminently  called  their  faU 
vaticn :  Hcb.  i.x.  28,  "  To  them  that  look  for  him,  fhall 
y^^  "  he 


3/0  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  feriod  IIL 

"  he  appear  the  fecond  time,  without  fm  unto  Mvdt- 
*'  tion." — So  it  is  called  ledempiion,  being  emineritty 
that  wherein  the  redemption  of  the  church  confifts. — 
So  in  Eph.  iv.  ^o.  *'  Sealed  unto  the  day  of  redemp- 
*'  tion;"  and  Luke  xxi.  28.  and  Eph.  i.  14.  "  Re- 
"  demotion  of  the  purchafed  poffeffion." 

2.  All  that  is  before  this,  while  the  church  is  under 
the  means  ot  grace,  is  only  to  make  way  for  the  fuccefs 
which  is  to  be  accomplilhed  in  the  beftowment  of  glorv. 
The  means  of  grace  are  to  fit  for  glory  ;  and  God's  graee 
itfelf  is  bellowed  on  the  eleft  to  make  them  meet  fof 
glory. 

3.  All  thofe  glorious  things  which  were  brought  to 
pafs  for  the  church  while  under  the  means  of  grace, 
are  but  images  and  fhadows  of  this^.  So  were  thofe 
glorious  things  which  were  accompHfhed  for  the  church 
in  the  days  of  Conflantine  the  Great ;  and  fo  is  all  that 
glory  which  is  to  be  accomplirned  in  the  glorious  times 
t>f  the  church  which  are  to  fucceed  the  fall  of  Anti- 
chrill.  As  great  as  it  is,  it  is  all  but  a  Ihadow  of  what 
will  be  bellowed  at  the  day  ef  judgment :  and  therefore, 
as  I  have  already  often  obferved,  all  thofe  preceding 
glorious  events,  by  which  God  wrought  glorious- things 
for  his  church,  are  fjjokcn  of  in  fcripture  as  images 
of  Chrift 's  lall  coming  to  judgment. 

But  I  haften  more  particularly  to  fho^v  how  this  kind 
of  fuccefs  of  ChriiFs  purchale  is  accomplilhed. 

1.  Chrift  will  appear  in  the  glory  of  his  Father,  with 
all  his  holy  angels,  coming  in  the  clouds  of  Heaven. — - 
When  the  world  is  thus  revelling  in  their  wickednefs, 
mid  corripalTing  the  holy  city  about,  jull  ready  to  de- 
ikoy  it,  and  when  the  church  is  reduced  to  fuch  a  great 
jlrait,  then  (hall  the  glorious  Redeemer  appear.  He 
through  \vhom  this  redemption  has  all  along  been  car- 
ried oti,  he  fhaU  appear  in  the  fight  of  the  world ;  the 
light  of  his  glory  {hall  break  forth  ;  the  whole  world 
Ihall  immediately  have  notice  of  it,  and  they  fhall  lift 
up  their  eyes  and  behold  this   wonderful  fight.     It  is" 

iaid,  "  Every  eye  fhail  fee  him,"  Rev.  i.  7. Chrill 

(liall  aj)pear  coming  in  his  hinnan  nature,  in  that  fame 
body  which  was  brought  forth  in  a  ftable,  and  laid  in  a 
manger,  and  which  afterwards  was  fo  cruelly  ufed,  and 
Jidilcd  to  the  crcfs,  ^ 

/    .  Men 


Pmll.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    371 

Men  (hall  now  lift  up  their  eyes,  nnd  fee  him  coming 
in  I'uch  majefly  and  glory  ds  now  is  to  ns  utterly  incon- 
ceivable. The  glory  of  the  km  in  a  clear  firmament, 
will  be  but  darknefs  in  comparifon  of"  it ;  and  all  the 
glorious  angels  and  archangels  ihall  attend  upon  him, 
thonfand  thoufands  minillering  to  him,  and  ten  thou- 
fand  times  ten  thonfand  round  about  him.  How  dif- 
ferent a  perfon  will  he  then  appear  from  what  he  did  at 
liis  firfl  coming,  vyhen  he  was  as  a  root  out  of  a  dry 
ground,  a  poor,  defpifed,  aifljHcd  man !  How  different 
now  is  his  appearance,  in  the  midft  of  ihofe  glorious 
angels,  principalities,  and  powers,  in  heavenly  places, 
attending  him  as  his  ordinary  fervants,  from  what  it 
was  when  in  the  midfl  of  a  ring  of  foldiers,  with  hi^ 
mock  robe  and  his  crown  of  thorns,  to  bcbiuTeted  and 
fpit  upon,  or  hanging  on  the  crofs  between  two  thieves, 
with  a  multitude  of  his  enemies  about  him  triumphing 
over  him  ! 

This  figlit  will  be  a  moft  unexpeflcd  figlit  to  the  wick-, 
ed  world  :  it  will  come  as  a  cry  at  midnight:  they  fhall 
be  taken  in  the  midfl  of  their  wickedncfs,  and  it  will 
give  them  a  dreadful  alarm.  It  will  at  once  break  up 
their  revels,  their  eating,  and  drinking,  and  caroufmg. 
It  will  put  a  quick  end  to  the  defign  of  the  great  army 
that  will  then  be  compafling  tlie  camp  of  the  faints  :  it 
will  make  them  let  drop  their  weapons  out  of  their 
iiands.  The  world,  which,  will,  tlien  be  very  full  of 
people,  mofl  of  whom  will  be  wicked  men,  will  then 
02  filled  with  dolorous  flirieking  and  cr\ing  ;  for  all  the 
kindreds  of  the  earth  fhall  wail  becaufe  of  him,  Rev. 
i.  7.  And  where  fhall  tl:cy  hide  themfelves  ?  How 
will  the  fight  of  that  awful  ijiajcffy  terrify  them  when 
taken  in  the  midfl  of  their  wickednefs  ?  Then  they 
fliall  fee  who  he  is,  what  kind  of  a  perfon  he  is,  whom 
they  haye  mocked  and  fcoffed  at,  and  whofe  church 
they  have  been  endeavouring  to  ovcrthrov*'.  This  fight 
will  change  their  voice.  The  voice  of  their  laughter 
and  Tinging,  while  they  are  m^rryi:ig  and  giving  in  mar- 
riage, and  the  voice  of  their  fcofhng  fhall  be  changed, 
into  hideous,  yea  hellifh  yelling.  T^eir  coimtenanccs 
ihafl  be  changed  from  a  fhow  of  carnal  mirth,  h.anghty 
pride,   ^nd   contempt  of  God's  people  ;   it  (hail  pu^ 


372  A  HISTORY  OF  PeriodllL 

on  a  fhew  of  ghaftly  terror  and  amazement;  and  trem- 
bling and  chattering  of  teeth  fhall  feize  upon  them. 

But  with  refpe61;  to  the  faints,  the  church  of  Chrift, 
it  (hall  be  a  joyful  and  moft  glorious  fight  to  them  :  for 
this  fight  will  at  once  deliver  them  from  all  fear  of  their 
enemies,  who  were  before  compaflTmg  them  about,  jufi 
ready  to  fwallow  them  up.  Deliverance  fhall  come  in 
their  extremity  :  the  glorious  captain  of  their  falvation 
ihall  appear  for  them,  at  a  time  when  no  other  help  ap« 
peared.     Then  fhall  they  lift  up  their  heads,  and  their 

redemption  fhall  be  drawing  nigh,  Luke  xxi.  28.- 

And  thus  Chrifl  will  appear  with  infinite  majefty,  and 
yet  at  the  fame  time  they  fhall  fee  infinite  love  in  his 
countenance  to  ihem.  And  thus  to  fee  their  Redeemer 
coming  in  the  clouds  of  Heaven,  will  fill  their  hearts 
full  of  gladnefs.  Their  countenances  alfo  fhall  be 
changed,  but  not  as  the  countenances  of  the  wicked, 
but  Ihall  be  changed  from  being  forrowful,  to  be  ex- 
ceeding joyful  and  triumphant.  And  now  the  work  of 
redemption  will  be  finifhed  in  another  fenfe,  viz.  that 
the  whole  church  fhall  be  completely  and  eternally 
freed  from  all  perfecution  and  moleflation  from  wicked 
men  and  devils. 

2.  The  laft  trumpet  fhall  found,  and  the  dead  fhall 
be  raifed,  and  the  living  changed.  God  fent  forth  his 
angels  with  a  great  found  of  a  trumpet,  to  gather  toge- 
ther his  eleft  from  the  four  corners  of  the  earth  in  a 
rnyftical  fenfe,  before  the  deflruftion  of  Jerufalem  ;  i.  e. 
he  fent  forth  the  apoftles,  and  others,  to  preach  the 
gofpel  all  over  the  world.  And  fo  in  a  myftical  fenfe 
the  great  trumpet  was  blown  at  the  beginning  of  the 
glorious  times  of  the  church.  But  now  the  great  trum- 
pet is  blown  in  a  more  literal  fenfe,  with  a  mighty, 
found,  which  fhakes  the  earth.  There  will  be  a  great 
fignal  given  by  a  mighty  found  made,  which  is  called 
the  voice  of  the  archangel,  as  being  the  angel  of  greatefl 
ftrength,  1  Thef.  iv.  16.  "  For  the  Lord  himfelf  fhall 
*'  defcend  from  Heaven  with  a  fhout,  with  the  voice  of 
*'  the  archangel,  and  with  the  trump  of  God."  On 
the  found  of  the  great  trumpet,  the  dead  fhall  be  raifed 
every  where.  Now  the  number  of  the  dead  is  very 
great.  How  manv  has  death  cut  down  for  fo  long  a 
time  as  fince  the  ivorld  has  flood.  But  then  the  num- 
ber 


part  11.  J.    The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.    373 

ber  will  be  much  greater  after  the  world  fliall  liave  flood 
fo  much  longer,  and  through  moll  of  the  remaining 
time  will  doubtlefs  be  much  fuller  of  inhahilants  thart 
jever  it  has  been.  All  thefe  fliall  now  rife  from  the 
dead.  The  grave  Ihall  be  opened  every  vvhere  in  all 
parts  of  the  world,  and  the  fea  ih^Il  give  up  the  innu- 
merable dead  that  are  in  it.  Rev.  xx.  13. 

And  now  all  the  inhabitants  that  ever  fliall  have  bceti 
upon  the  face  of  the  earth,  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world  to  that  time,  fhall  all  appear  upon  earth  at  once  ; 
all  that  ever  have  been  of  the  church  of  God  in  all 
ages,  Adam  and  Eve,  the  firfl  parents  of  mankind,  and 
Abel,  and  Seth,  and  Methufelah,  and  all  (he  faints 
who  were  their  contemporaries,  and  Noah  ?nd  Abra- 
ham, Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  and  the  prophets  of  IIrael,and 
the  faints  in  the  time  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  and  all 
that  were  of  the  church  in  their  times ;  and  all  the  ho- 
ly apoftles  of  Jefus  Chrift,  and  all  the  faints  of  their 
times  ;  and  all  the  holy  martyrs  under  the  ten  Heathen 
perfecutipns ;  and  all  who  belonged  to  the  church  in 
its  wildernefs-ftate,  during  the  dark  times  of  Antichrift, 
and  all  the  holy  martyrs  who  have  fuffeied  under  the 
cruelty  of  the  Popifli  perfecutions ;  and  all  the  faints 
of  theprefent  time,  and  all  the  faints  who  are  here  in  this 
aflembly  among  the  reft ;  and  all  that  fhall  be  from 
hence  to  the  end  of  the  world. — Now  alfo  all  the  ene- 
mies of  the  church  that  have  or  fliall  be  in  all  the  ages 
of  the  world,  fhall  appear  upon  the  face  of  the  earth 
again ;  all  the  wicked  killed  in  the  flood,  and  the  mul- 
titudes that  died  all  over  thfe  world  among  Gods  pro- 
fefhng  people,  or  others ;  all  that  died  in  all  (he  Hea- 
then nations  before  Chrift,  and  all  wicked  Hcadiens, 
and  Jews,  and  Mahometans,  and  Papifls  that  have  died 
fince  ;  ail  Ihall  come  together.  Sinners  of  all  forts ; 
flemnre  hypocrites,  thofe  who  have  the  faircfl  and  bell 
putfide,  and  open  profane  drunkards,  whorerriafters, 
heretics,  deifls,  and  all  cruel  perfecuto*-s,  and  all  that 
have  died  or  fhall  die  in  fln  amongfl  us. 

And  at  the  fame  time  that  the  dead  are  raifcd,  the 
living  fhall  be  changed.  The  bodies  of  the  wicked  wht> 
fhall  then  be  living,  fliall  befo  changed  as  to  fit  them  for 
eternal  torment  without  corruption  ;  and  the  bodies  ot 
all  the  living  faints  fhall  be  changed  ^o  be  like  Chrifl's 

glorious 


374  A   HISTORY   OF  Period  III, 

glorious  body,  i  Cor.  xv.  51.  52.  53. — The  bodies  of 
the  fdinis  fhall  be  fo  changed  as  to  render  them  for 
ever  incapable  of  pain,  or  atfliftion,  or  uneafinefs ;  and 
all  that  duUnefs  and  heavinefs,  and  all  that  deformity, 
which  their  bodies  had  before,  (hall  be  put  off;  and 
they  fhall  put  on  ftrength,  and  beauty,  and  aftivity, 
and  incorruptible  unfading  glory.  And  in  fuch  glory 
(hall  the  bodies  of  the  rifen  faints  appear. 

And  now  the  work  of  redemption  fliall  be  finiflied 
in  another  refpeft,  viz.  that  all  the  eleft  fhall  nov/  be 
actually  redeemed  in  botli  foul  and  body.  Before  this, 
the  work  of  redemption,  as  to  its  actual  fuccefs,  was 
but  incompleat  and  imperfeft  ;  for  only  thp  fouls  of  the 
redeemed  were  aftually  faved  and  glorified,  exceptmgin 
fome  few  inftances :  but  now  all  the  bqdies  of  the 
faints  fhall  be  faved  and  glorified  together :  all  the 
elect  fhall  be  glorified  in  the  whole  man,  and  the  foul 
and  body  in  union  one  with  the  other. 

3.  Nov/  fliall  the  whole  church  of  faints  be  caught 
up  in  the  clouds  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air,  and  all 
wicked  men  and  Devils  fhall  be  arraigned  before  the 
judgment-feat.  When  the  dead  faints  are  raifed,  then 
the  whole  church,  confifling  of  ^all  the  eieft  through 
all  ages,  will  be  Handing  together  on  the  face  of  the 
eartli,  atleaft  all  excepting  thpf*^  few  whofe  bodies  were 
glorified  before  ;  and  then  they  Ihall  all  mount  up  as 
with  wings  in  the  air  to  meet  Chrift  :  for  it  feems  that 
Chrifl,  when  he  comes  to  judgment,  will  not  com.e 
quite  down  to  the  ground,  but  his  throne  will  be  fixed 
in  the  air,  in  the  region  of  the  clouds,  whence  he  m.ay 
be  feen  by  all  that  vafl  multitude  that  fhall  be  gathered 
before  him.  The  church  of  faints  therefore  fhall  be 
taken  up  from  the  earth  to  afcend  up  to  their  Saviour, 
Thus  the  apoflle  tells  us,  that  when  the  dead  in  Chrift 
are  raifed,  and  the  living  changed,  then  thofe  who  are 
alive  and  remain,  fhall  be  caught  up  together  with  thera 
to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air,  and  fo  fhall  we  be  ever 
with  the  Lord,  1  Thef.  iv.  16.  17,  What  a  wonderful 
fight  will  that  be,  when  all  the  many  millions  of  faints 
are  feen  thus  mounting  up  from  all  parts  of  the  world ! 

Then  fhall  the  work  of  redemption  be  finiflied  in  an.- 
other  rcfpcft  :  then  fliall  the  whole  church  be  perfe6tly 
and  for  ever  delivered  from  thi^  prcfent  evil   Vvorkl^ 

for 


PartU.  1.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.     375 

for  ever  forfake  this  curfed  ground  :  thcv  (hall  take 
their  everlafling  leave  of  this  earth,  wliere  they  have 
been  flrangers,  and  which  has  been  for  the  moA  part 
fucha  fcene  of  their  trouble  and  forrow  ;  where  the  De- 
vil for  the  molt  part  has  reigned  as  god,  and  has  great- 
ly molelled  ihem,  and  which  has  been  fuch  a  fcene  of 
wickednefs  and  abomination;  where  Chiill  their  Lord 
has  been  cruelly  ufed ;  and  where  they  have  been  fo 
hated,  and  reproached,  and  perfecuted,  from  age  to  age, 
through  moft  of  the  ages  of  the  world.  They  Ihall 
leave  it  under  foot  to  go  to  Chrift,  and  never  (hall  fet 
foot  on  it  again.  And  there  Ihall  be  an  everlafling  fe- 
paration  made  between  them  and  wicked  men.  Before, 
they  were  mixed  together,  and  it  was  impoflible,  in 
many  inftances,  to  determine  which  were  which  ;  but 
now  all  fhall  become  vifible ;  both  faints  and  finiicrs 
fliall  appear  in  their  true  charafters. 

Then  fhall  all  the  church  be  ken  flowing  together  in 
the  air  to  the  place  where  Chrift  Ihall  have  fixed  his 
throne,  coming  from  the  eaft  and  well,  and  north  and 
fouth,  to  the  right  liand  of  Chrift.  What  a  mighty 
cloud  of  them  will  there  be,  when  all  that  ever  have 
been  of  the  church  of  God,  all  that  were  before  Chrift, 
all  that  multitude  of  faints  that  were  in  the  apoftles 
time  and  all  that  were  in  the  days  of  Conftantine  the 
Great,  and  all  that  were  before  and  fince  the  Reforma- 
tion, and  alfo  all  that  great  multitude  of  faints  that 
fliall  be  in  all  the  glorious  times  of  the  church,  when 
the  whole  earth  fhall  for  fo  manv  generations  be  full  ot 
faints,  and  alfo  all  that  fhall  be  then  living  when  Chrifl 
fhall  come  ;  I  fay,  what  a  cloud  of  them  will  there  be*, 
when  all  thefe  are  i'een  flocking  together  in  the  region 
of  the  clouds  at  the  right  hand  of  Chrifl ! 

And  then  alfo  the  work  of  redemption  will  bcfinifh- 
cd  in  another  rclpecl,  viz.  that  then  the  church  fhall 
all  be  gathered  together.  They  all  belonged  to  one 
focicty  before,  but  yet  were  greatly  feparatcd  with  re- 
fyedi  to  the  place  of  their  habitation  ;  fomc  being  in 
Heaven,  and  fome  on  earth;  and  thole  who  were  on 
earth  together  were  feparated  one  from  another,  many 
of  them  by  wide  oceans,  and  vafl  continents.  But  now 
they  fhall  all  be  gathered  together,  never  to  be  fej^ara- 
ted  any  more.     And  not  only  fhall  all  the  mcnibeis  of 

the 


3/6  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  III. 

the  church  now  be  gathered  together,  but  all  fhall  be 
gathered  unto  their  hetid,  into  his  immediate  glorious 
prefence,  never  to  be  feparated  from  him  any  niore. — 
This  never  can^e  to  pafs  till  now. 

At  the'  fame  time,  all  wicked  men  and  devils  fhall  be 
brought  before  the  judgment-feat  of  Chrift.  Thefe 
fhall  be  gathered  to  the  left  hand  of  Chrilt,  and,  as  it 
feems,  will  Ptill  remain  upon  the  earth,  and  Ihall  not  be 
caught  up  into  the  air,  as  the  faints  fliall  be.— — Ths 
devil,  that  old  ferpent,  fhall  now  be  dragged  up  out 
of  hell.  He,  that  firll  procured  the  fall  and  mifery  of 
mankind,  and  has  fo  fet  himfelf  againft  their  redempr 
tion,  and  has  all  along  fhown  himfelf  fuch  an  invete* 
rate  enemy  to  the  Redeem.er  ;  now  he  {hall  never  more 
have  any  thing  to  do  with  the  church  of  God,  or  be 
fufFered  in  the  leaft  to  afflift  or  moleft  any  member  of 
it  any  more  for  ever.  Inftead  of  that,  now  he  mufl 
be  judged,  and  receive  the  due  reward  of  his  deeds. — 
Now^  has  come  the  time  which  he  has  always  dreaded, 
and  trembled  at  the  thought  of;  the  time  wherein  he 
muft  be  judged,  and  receive  his  full  punifhment.  He 
who  by  his  temptation  malicioufly  procured  Chrift 's 
crucinxion,  and  triumphed  upon  it,  as  though  he  had 
obtained  the  viftory,  even  he  fhall  fee  the  confequences 
of  the  death  of  Chrifl  which  he  procured:  for  Chrift's 
coming  to  judge  him  in  his  human  nature  is  the  con- 
fequence  of  it ;  for  Chrifl  obtained  and  purchafed  this 
glory  to  himfelf  by  that  death.  Now  he  muft  ftand 
before  that  fame  Jefus  whofe  death  he  procured,  to  be 
judged,  condemned,  and  eternally  dellroyed  by  him. 
If  Satan,  the  prince  of  hell,  trembles  at  the  thought  of 
it  thoufands  of  years  beforehand,  how  much  more  will 
he  tremble,  as  proud  and  as  flubborn  as  he  is,  when  he 
corj.es  TO  ftand  at  Chrift's  bar. 

Tlicn  ihall  he  alfo  ftand  at  the  bar  of  the  faints, 
whom  lie  has  fo  hated,  and  affliflcd,  and  molefted  :  for 
the  fdirus  ftall  jucige  him  with  Chrili :  i  Cor  vi.  3. 
•'  Know  ye  not  that  we  fliall  judge  angels  ?"  Now 
fliall  he  be  as  it  were  fubdued  under  the  church's  feet, 

agreeable  to  Rom.  xvi.  20. Satan,  when  he  firft 

tempted  our  firft  parents  to  fall,  deceitfully  and  lyingly 
toll  them,  that  they  fhould  be  as  gods :  but  little  did 
he  think  that  the  coiifequeiicc  Ihouid  be,  that  they 

Ihould 


Part  II.  2.     The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    37; 

fliould  indeed  be  fo  much  as  gods,  as  to  be  afTelFors  with 
God  to  judge  him.  Much  lels  did  he  think,  that  that 
confequence  would  follow,  that  one  ot  that  nature 
which  he  then  tempted,  one  of  the  pollerity  of  thole 
perfons  whom  he  tempted,  fhould  actually  be  united  to 
God,  and  that  as  God  he  fhould  judge  the  world,  and 
that  he  himfelf  muft  ftand  trembling  and  altonilhed 
before  his  judgnient-feat.  But  thus  all  the  devils  in 
hell,  who  have  fo  oppofcd  Chrill  and  his  kingdom 
fhall  now  at  lait  Itand  in  utmofl  amazement  and  horror 
before  Chrift  and  his  church,  who  fhall  appear  to  con- 
demn them. 

Now  alfo  fhall  all  Chrifl's  other  enemies  be  brought 
to  appear  before  him.  Now  fhall  wicked  proud  fcribes 
and  Pharifees,  who  had  fnch  a  malignant  hatred  of 
Chrifl  while  in  his  flate  of  humiliation,  and  who  per- 
fecuted  Chrifl  to  death,  thofe  before  whofe  judginent- 
feat  Chrift  was  once  called  and  flood,  as  a  malefattor 
at  their  bar,  and  thofe  who  mocked  him,  and  bufTcted 
him,  and  fpit  in  his  face  ;  now  fhall  they  fee  Chrifl  in 
his  glory,  as  Chrifl  forewarned  them  in  the  time  of  it, 
Matth.  xxvi.  64.  65.  Then  Chrifl  was  before  their  judg- 
ment-feat :  but  now  it  is  their  turn.  They  fhall  ftand 
before  his  judgment-feat  with  inconceivable  horror  and 
amazement,  with  ghaflly  countenances,  and  quaking 
hmbs,  and  chattering  teeth,  and  knees  fmiting  one 
againfl  another. 

Now  alfo  all  the  cruel  enemies  and  perfecutors  of 
the  church  that  have  been  in  all  ages,  fliall  come  in  fight 

together. Pharaoh  and  the  Egyptians,  Antiochus 

Epiphanes,  the  perfecuting  fcribes  and  Pharifees,  the 
perfecuting  Heathen  emperors,  Julian  the  apuflate,  the 
cruel  perfecuting  Popes  and  Papifls,  Gog  and  iMagog, 
fhall  all  appear  at  once  before  the  judgment -feat  of 
Chrift.  They  and  the  faints  who  have  in  every  age 
been  perfecuted  by  them,  Ihall  come  in  fight  one  of  an- 
other, and  muft  confront  one  another  now  before  the 
great  Judge.  And  now  fhall  the  faints  on  iheir  glo- 
rious thrones  be  made  the  judges  of  thofe  unjuft  kings 
and  nilers  who  have  before  judged  and  condemned 
them,  and  cruelly  put  them  to  death.  Now  fhall  thofe 
perfecutors  behold  the  glorv  to  which  they  are  arrived 
^hom  they  before  io  cruelly  aefpifcd,  and  fo  cruelly 
y  y  ufcd  ; 


378"  A  HISTORY  or  Period  III^. 

nfed ;  and  Chriil  will  make  thofe  holy  martyrs  as  it  were 
to  come  and  fet  their  feet  on  the  necks  ot  their  perfe- 
cutors ;  they  fhall  be  made  their  footftool. 

Thus  wonderfully  will  the  face  of  things  be  altered 
from  what  nfed  to  be  in  the  former  times  of  the  world; 
now  will  all  things  be  coming  to  rights. 

4.  Tlie  righteoufnefs  of  the  church  fhall  be  mani- 
fefted,  and  all  the  wickednefs  of  their  enemies  fhall  be 
brought  to  light.  Thofe  faints  who  had  been  the  ob- 
jects of  hatred,  reproach,  and  contempt  in  the  worlds 
and  were  reviled  and  condemned  by  their  perfecutors 
without  a  caufe,  fliall  now  be  fully  vindicated.  They 
fliall  now  appear  cloathed  with  the  glorious  robe  of 
Chrift's  righteoufnefs.  It  fhall  be  moft  manifelf  before 
the  world,  that  Ghrifl's  righteoufnefs  is  theirs,  and 
they  fiiall  as  it  were  glorioully  Ihine  forth  in  it.  And 
then  alfo  ihall  their  inherent  holinefs  be  made  manifeft, 
and  all  their  good  works  lliall  be  brought  to  light.  The 
good  things  which  they  did  in  fecret  ihall  now  be  ma- 
iiifefied  openly.  Thofe  holy  ones  of  God,  who  had 
been  treated  as  though  they  were  the  filth  and  offscour- 
ing  of  the  earth,  as  though  they  were  not  fit  to  live  up- 
on earth,  as  worfe  than  beads  or  devils,  Ihall  now, 
when  things  fhall  appear  as  they  are,  appear  to  have 
been  the  excellent  of  the  earth.  Now  God  will  bring 
forth  their  righteoufnefs  as  the  light,  and  their  judg- 
ment as  the  noon -day.  And  now  it  fiiall  appear  who 
vrere  thofe  wicked  perfons  that  were  not  fit  to  live,  when 
allthe  wickednefs  of  the  enemies  of  Ghrift  and  his  church, 
their  pride,  their  malice,  their  cruelty,  their  hatred  of 
true  religion,  fl:iall  be  fet  forth  in  all  the  horrid  afis  of 
it,  and  with  all  its  aggravations  in  its  proper  colours. 

And  now  the  righteous  may  be  heard  before  this 
great  Judge,  who  could  not  be  heard  before  thofe  un- 
jml  judges.  Now  they  (hall  declare  their  caufe,.  and 
ihall  rife  up  in  judgment  againfl  their  perfecutors,  and 
fhdH  declare  how  they  have  been  treated  by  them.  And 
now  all  the  wickednefs  of  the  wicked  of  the  whole  world 
fliall  be  brought  to  light.  All  their  fecret  wickednels, 
and  their  very  hearts,  lliall  be  opened  to  view,  and  as 
it  were  turned  iiifide  out  before  the  bright  light  of  that 
grea't  day:  and  things  tliat  have  been  fjooken  in  the 
car,  in  the  ciufct,  and  done  iii  the  dark,  fliall  be  ma- 

nifefled 


Part  II.  2.   The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    37,^ 

nifefted  in  the  light,  and  proclaimed  before  all  angels 
and  men  that  are,  ever  were,  or  fhall  be. 

5.  The  fentence  fhall  be  pronounced  on  the  righteous 
and  the  wicked.  Chrif},  the  glorious  judge,  fhiil  pafs 
that  blelTed  fentence  on  the  church  at  his  right  hand, 
"  Come,  ye  bleffed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom 
*'  prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  v.orld." 
This  fentence  Ihall  be  pronounced  with  infinite  love, 
and  the  voice  will  be  mofl  fweet,  caufmg  every  heartto 
flow  with  joy.  Thus  Chrill  fliall  pronounce  a  fentence 
of  juflification  on  thoufands  and  millions,  who  have 
before  had  a  fentence  of  condemnation  paifed  upon 
them  by  their  perfecuting  rulers.  He  will  thus  put  ho- 
nour upon  thofe  who  have  been  before  defpifed  :  he 
will  own  them  for  his,  and  will  as  it  weve  put  a  crown 
ef  glory  upon  their  heads  before  the  world  ;  and  then 
fhall  they  fhine  forth  as  the  fun  with  Jefus  Chrifl  in 
glory  and  joy,  in  the  fight  of  all  their  enemies. 

And  then  ihall  the  fentence  of  condemnation  be  pafT- 
ed  on  the  wicked,  "  Depart,  ye  curfed,  into  everlaliing 
*'  fire,  prepared  fbr  the  devil  and  his  angels."  Thus 
fhall  the  church's  enemies  be  condemned  ;  in  which 
fentence  of  condemnation,  the  holy  martyrs,  who  have 
fuffered  from,  them,  fhall  concur.  When  the  words  of 
this  fentence  are  pronounced,  they  will  flrike  every 
heart  of  thofe  at  the  left  hand  with  inconceivable  hor- 
ror and  amazement.  Every  fyllable  of  it  will  be  more 
terrible  than  a  ffream  of  lightning  through  their  hearts. 
We  can  conceive  but  very  little  of  thofe  figns  and  ex- 
prefTions  of  horror  which  there  will  be  upon  it,  of 
fhrieking,  quaking,  gnafhing  of  teeth,  diltortions  of 
countenance,  hideous  looks,  hideous  anions,  and  hide- 
ous voices,  through  all  that  vafl  throng. 

6.  Upon  this  Chrill  and  all  his  church  of  faints,  and 
all  the  holy  angels  miniffering  to  them,  fhall  leave  this 
lower  world,  and  afcend  up  towards  the  highef)  Heavens, 
Chrill  fhall  afcend  in  as  great  glory  as  he  defcen.:!ecl, 
and  in  fome  refpecls  greater :  for  now  he  fliull  afcend 
with  his  elecl  church  wiih  him,  glorified  in  both  bodv 
and  foul.  Chriff's  firfl  arcenfion  to  Hc-aven  foon  afui 
his  own  refurreftion  was  very  glorious.  But  tliis  hi«; 
fecond  afcenfion,  theafcenfion  of  his  myHical  bo;ly,  his 
whole  church,  fhall  be  far  m.ore  glorious.  The  re- . 
deemed  church  fliall  all  afcend  with  him  in  a  moll  joy- 

Y  y  2  iul 


38o  A  HISTORY   OF  Period  III, 

fuj  and  triumphant  manner  ;  and  all  their  enemies  and 
perfecutors,  who  fhall  be  left  behind  on  the  accurfed 
ground  to  be  confumed,  fhall  fee  the  fight,  and  hear 
their  fongs. 

And  th'js  Chrift's  church  (hall  for  ever  leave  this 
accur  ed  world,  to  go  into  that  more  glorious  world,  the 
higheft  Heavens,  into  the  paradife  of  God,  the  king- 
dom that  was  prepared  fpr  them  from  the  foundation 
oi  the  world. 

7.  When  they  are  gone,  this  world  fhall  be  fet  on 
fire,  and  be  turned  into  a  great  furnace,  wherein  all  the 
enemies  of  Chrill  and  his  church  Ihall  be  tormented  for 
ever  and  ever.  1  his  is  manifeft  by  2  Pet.  iii.  7.  "But 
^'  the  Heavens  and  the  earth  which  are  now,  by  the 
*'  fanie  word  are  kept  in  ftore,  refer ved  unto  fire  a- 
*'  gainft  the  day  of  judgment,  and  perditi.  n  of  un- 
*'  godly  men."  When  Chiift  and  his  church  are  af- 
cended  to  a  diflance  from  this  world,  that  miferable 
company  of  wicked  being  left  behind,  to  have  their 
fentence  executed  upon  them  here,  then,  fpme  way 
or  other,  this  whole  lower  world  fliall  be  fet  on  fire, 
eiiher  by  fire  from  Heaven,  or  by  fire  breaking  out  of 
the  bowels  of  the  earth,  or  both,  as  it  was  with  the 
water  in  the  time  of  the  deluge.     However,  this  lower 

world  Ihall  be  fet  all  on    fire. How  will  it  ftrike 

the  wicked  with  horror,  when  the  fire  begins  to  lay 
hold  upon  them,  and  they  find  no  way  to  eicape  it,  or 
flee  or  hide  from  it  I  What  fhrieking  and  crying  will 
there  be  among  thofe  many  thoufands  and  millions, 
when  they  begin  to  enter  into  this  great  furnace,  when 
the  whole  world  fhall  be  a  furnace  of  the  fierceft  and 
moft  raging  heat !  Infomuch  that  the  Apoftle  Peter 
fays,  (2  Pet.  iii.  10.  12.)  "that  the  Heavens  fhall  pafs 
*'  away  with  a  great  noife,  and  the  elements  fhall  melt 
*'  with  fervent  heat,  the  earih  alfp  and  the  works  that 
*'  are  therein  fhsll  be  burnt  up  ;"  and  that  the  "  Hea- 
*'  vens  being  on  fire  (hall  be  dilTolved,  and  the  elements 
"  fliali  melt  with  fer\ent  heat.",  And  fo  fierce  fhall 
be  its  heat,  t'lat  it  fhall  burn  the  earth  in  its  very  cen- 
tre ;  which  feems  to  be  what  is  meant,  Deut.  xxxii^ 
Z2.  "  For  a  fire  is  kindled  in  my  anger,  and  fhall 
"  burn  unto  the  lowcft  hell,  and  fhall  confume  the 
*'  earth  with  her  increafe,  and  fet  on  fire  the  foundati- 
*•  ons  of  the  mount^ius."  An4 


Fartll.  2.    The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.    381 

And  here  fhall  all  ihe  perfecutors  of  the  church  of 
God  burn  in  everlailing  fire,  who  have  before  burnt 
the  faints  at  the  Hake,  and  fhall  fufier  torments  far 
beyond  all  that  their  utniofl  wit  and  malice  could  infli£l 
on  the  faints.  And  here  the  bodies  of  all  the  wicked 
fhall  burn,  and  be  tormented  to  all  eternity,  and  never 
be  confumed ;  and  the  wrath  of  God  Ihall  be  poured 
out  on  their  fouls.  Though  the  fouls  of  the  wicked  ia 
bell  do  now  fuffer  dreadful  punifliment,  yet  their  pun- 
jfhment  will  be  fo  increafed  at  the  day  of  judgment, 
that  what  they  fuffer  before,  is,  in  comparifon  of  it, 
as  an  imprifonment  to  the  execution  which  follows  it. 
And  now  the  Devil,  that  old  ferpent,  fliall  receive  his 
full  punilhment;  now  fliall  that  which  he  befoie  trem- 
bled for  fear  of,  fully  come  upon  him.  This  world, 
which  formerly  ufed  to  be  the  place  of  his  kingdom, 
where  he  fet  up  himfelf  as  God,  fliall  now  be  the  place 
of  his  compleat  punifhraent,  and  full  and  everlailing 
torment. 

And  in  this,  one  defign  of  the  work  of  redemption 
which  has  been  mentioned,    viz.  putting  Chriil's  enc- 
jnies  under  his  feet,  fliall  be  perfectly   accompliflied. 
His  enemies  fliall  now  be  made  his  foot  flool,  in  the 
fullefl:  degree.     Now  fliall  be  the  mofl;  perfe6f   fulfil- 
ment of  that  in  Gen.  iii.  15.  "  It  fliall  bruife  thy  head.'* 
8.  At  the  fame  time,  all  the  church  fliall  enter  with 
Chrift,  their  glorious  Lord,  imo  the  higheft  Heaven, 
and  there  fliall  enter  on  the  ftate   of  their  highefl  and 
eternal  bleffednefs  and  glory.    While  the  lower  world, 
which  they  have  left  under  their  feet,  is  feized  with  the 
£re  of  God's  vengeance,  and  flames  are  kindling  upon 
it,  and  the  wicked  are  entering  into  e\erlailing  fire,  the 
\\'hole  church  Ihall  enter,  with  their  glorious  head,  and 
all  the  holy  angels  attending,  in  a  joyful  manner,  into 
the  eternal   paradife  of  God,  the  palace  of  the  great 
Jehovah,  their  Heavenly  Father.     The  gates  Ihall  open 
wide    for  them  to  enter,  and   there  Chrift   will  bring 
them  into  his  chambers  in  the  highefl  fenfe.     He  will 
bring  them  into  his  Father's    houfe,  into  a  world  not 
hke  that  which  they  have  left.     Here  Chrift  will  bring 
them,  a»d  prefcnt  them  in  glory  to  his  Father,  faying, 
**  Here  am  I,  and  the  children  which  thou  half  given 
*»  me;"  as  much  as  to  fay.  Here  am  I:  with  evciyone 
pf  thofe  whom  thou  gavell  me  from  eternity  to  take  the 

care 


382  A   HIS  TORY  OF  Venodllt 

care  of,  that  they  might  be  redeemed  and  glorified, 
and  to  redeem  whom  I  have  done  and  fiifFered  fo  much, 
.and  to  make  way  for  the  -redemption  of  whom  I  have 
for  fo  -many  ages  been  accompli fhing  fuch  great  chan- 
ges. Here  they  are  now  perfeclly  redeemed  in  body 
and  foul ;  I  have  perfeftly  delivered  them  from  all  the 
ill  fruits  of  the  fall,  and  perfe8rly  fr-eed  them  from  all 
4heir  enemies :  I  have  brought  them  all  together  into 
one  glorious  fociety,  and  united  them  all  in  myfelf :  I 
Jiave  openly  juftified  them  before  all  angels  and  men, 
and  here  I  have  brought  them  all  away  from  that  ac- 
curfed  world  where  they  hav^  foffer-ed  fo  miK:h,  and 
have  brought  them  before  thy  throne :  I  have  done  all 
that  for  them  which  thou  haft  appointed  me  :  I  have 
.perfectly  cleanfed  them  from  all  filthinefs  in  my  blood, 
^nd  here  they  are  in  perfeft  holinefs,  fhining  with  thy 
perfcti  image. 

And  then  the  father  will  accept  of  tiiem,  and  own 
them  all  for  his  children,  and  will  welcome  them  to  the 
-eternal  and  perfe6l  inheritance  and  glory  of  his  houfe, 
and  will  on  this  occafion  give  more  glorious  manifeft- 
ations  of  his  love,  than  ever  before,  and  will  admit  them 
to  a  more  full  and  perfect  enjoyment  of  himfelf. 

And  now  fhall  be  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  in  the 
moft  perfeft  fenfe.  The  commencement  of  the  glorious 
iimes  of  the  church  on  earth,  after  the  fall  of  Anti- 
chrift,  is  reprefented  as  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb; 
and  this  iliall  be  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  in  the  high- 
.eft  fenfe  that  ever  (hall  be  on  earth  :  but  after  this  we 
read  of  another  iparriage  of  the  Lamb,  at  the  clofe  of 
the  day  of  judgment.  After  the  beloved  difciple  had 
given  an  account  of  the  day  of  judgment,  in  the  clofe 
of  the  2oth  chapter  of  Revelation,  then  he  proceeds  to 
give  an  account  of  what  follows,  in  the  21ft  and  2  2d 
chapters;  and  in  the  2d  vcrfe  of  the  21ft  chapter,  he 
gives  an  account,  that  he  faw  the  holy  city,  the  New 
Jerufalem,  prepared  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her  hufband. 
And  when  Chrift  fhall  bring  his  church  into  his  Fa- 
ther's houfe  in  Heaven,  after  the  judgment,  he  fliall 
bring  her  thither  as  his  bride,  having  there  prefentcd 
her,  whom  he  loved,  and  gave  himfelf  for,  to  him- 
felf without  fpot  or  wrinkle,  or  any  fuch  thing. 

The  bridegroom  and  th?  bride  fhall  then  enter  into 

Heaven 


I>ar-t  II.  2.    The  Work  OF  REDEMPTION.    3^3 

Heaven,  both  having  on  their  wedding  robes,  attended 
with  all  the  glorious  angels.  And  there  they  enter  on 
the  feaft  and  joys  of  their  marriage  before  the  Father  ; 
they  fhall  then  begin  an  everlafling  wedding-day.  This 
fliall  be  the  day  of  the  gladnefs  of  Clirill's  heart  where- 
in he  will  greatly  rejoice,  and  all  the  faints  Ihall  rejoice 
with  them.  Chrill  fhall  rejoice  over  his  bride,  and  the 
bride  fliall  rejoice  in  her  huiband,  in  the  flate  of  her 
confummate  and  evcrlalling  blefFedncfs,  of  which  we 
have  a  particular  defcription  in  the  2  ill  and  22d  chap- 
ters of  Revelation. 

And  now  the  whole  work  of  redemption  is  finifhcd. 
We  have  feen  how  it  has  been  carrying  on  from  the 
fall  of  man  to  this  time.  But  now  it  is  compleat  with 
refpeft  to  all  that  belongs  to  it.  Now  the  top  (lone  of 
the  building  is  laid.  In  the  progrefs  of  the  difcourfe 
on  this  fubjeft,  we  have  followed  the  church  of  God  in 
all  the  great  changes,  all  her  toflings  to  and  fro  that 
fhe  has  been  fubjed  to,  in  all  the  florms  and  tempers 
through  the  many  ?ges  of  the  world,  till  at  length  we 
have  feen  an  end  to  all  thefe  florms.  We  have  Cecn  her 
enter  the  harbour,  and  landed  in  the  highcft  Heavens, 
in  compleat  and  eternal  glory,  in  all  her  members,  foul 
and  body.  We  have  gone  through  time,  and  the  fe- 
veral  ages  of  it,  as  the  providence  of  God,  and  the 
word  of  God,  have  led  us ;  and  now  we  have  iffued 
into  eternity  after  time  fiiall  be  no  more.  We  have 
feen  all  the  church's  enemies  fixed  in  endlefs  mifer)-, 
and  have  feen  the  church  prefented  in  her  perfeff  re- 
demption before  the  Father  in  Heaven,  there  to  enjov 
this  moft  unfpeakable  and  inconceivable  glory  and  blef- 
fednefs ;  and  there  we  leave  her  to  enjoy  this  glory 
throughout  the  never-ending  ages  of  eternity. 

Now  all  Chrifl's  enemies  will  be  pcrfeftly  put  under 
his  feet,  and  he  fliall  have  his  moft  perfcft  triumph 
over  fm  and  Satan,  and  ail  his  inflruments,  and  death, 
and  hell.  Now  fhall  all  the  promifes  made  toChiiflby 
God  the  Father  before  the  foundation  of  th.e  world, 
the  promifes  of  the  covenant  of  rcdem.ption,  be  lully 
accompli  (bed.  And  Chrift  fhall  now  perfectl\-  have  ob- 
tained the  joy  that  was  fct  before  him  for  which  he  un- 
dertook thofe  great  fufTcrings  which  he  underwent  in 
Jais  ilatc  of  humiliation.     Now  fhall  all  the  hopes  and 

expcHations 


^§4  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  OF  Period  III. 

expe6lations  of  the  faints  be  fuIfJIed.  The  ftate  of 
things  that  the  church  was  in  before,  was  a  progreflive 
and  preparatory  ftate ;  but  now  fhe  is  arrived  to  her 
moft  perfeft  ftate  of  glory.  All  the  glory  of  the  glo- 
rious times  of  the  church  on  earth  is  but  a  faint  (hadow 
of  this  her  confummate  glory  in  Heaven. 

And  now  Chrift  the  great  Redeemer  fhall  be  mofl 
perfeftly  glorified,  and  God  the  father  fhall  be  glorified 
in  him,  and  the  Holy  Ghoft  fhall  be  moft  fully  glorified 
in  the  perfeftion  of  his  work  on  the  hearts  of  all  the 

church. And  now  fhall  that  new  Heaven  and  new 

earth,  or  that  renewed  ftate  of  things,  which  had  been 
building  up  ever  fmce  Chrift's  refurreftion,  be  com- 
pieatly  finiflied,  after  the  very  material  frame  of  the  old 
Heavens  and  old  earth  are  deftroyed :  Rev.  xxi.  i, 
*'  And  I  faw  a  new  Heaven  and  a  new  earth  :  for  the 
*'  firft  Heaven  and  the  firft  earth  were  pafTed  away."— 
And  now  will  the  great  Redeemer  have  peifefted  every 
thing  that  appertains  to  the  work  of  redemption,  which 
he  began  fo  foon  after  the  fall  of  man.  And  who  can 
conceive  of  the  triumph  of  thofe  praifes  which  fhall  be 
fung  in  Heaven  on  this  great  occafion,  fo  much  greater 
than  that  of  the  fall  of  Antichrift,  which  occafions  fuch 
praifes  as  we  have  defcribed  in  the  19th  chapter  of  Re- 
velation !  The  beloved  difciple  John  feems  to  want  ex- 
preffions  to  defcribe  thofe  praifes,  and  fays,  "  It  was  as 
*'  the  voice  of  many  waters,  and  as  the  voice  of  migh- 
**  ty  thunderings,  faying,  Alleluia :  for  the  Lord  God 
"  omnipotent  reigneth."  But  much  more  inexprelTible 
will  thofe  praifes  be,  which  will  be  fung  in  Heaven  af- 
ter the  final  confummation  of  all  things.  How  fhall 
the  praifes  of  that  vaft  and  glorious  multitude  be  as 
mighty  thunderings  indeed  ! 

And  now  how  are  all  the  former  things  palled  away, 
and  what  a  glorious  ftate  are  things  fixed  in  to  remain  to 
all  eternity ! — And  as  Chrift,  when  he  firft  entered  upon 
the  work  of  redemption  after  the  fall  of  men,  had  the 
kingdom  committed  to  him  of  the  Father  and  took 
on  himfelf  the  adminiftration  of  the  affairs  of  the  uni- 
verfe,  to  manage  all  fo  as  to  fubferve  the  purpofes  of 
this  affair  ;  fo  now,  the  work  being  finifhed,  he  will  de- 
liver up  the  kingdom  to  God  even  the  Father,  1  Cor. 
XV.  24.    "Then  conieth  the  end,  when  he  fliall  have 

*'  delivered 


Impr.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       385 

"  delivered  up  tlie  kingdom  to  God,  even  ihe  Father; 
"  when  he  fhall  have  put  down  all  rule,  and  all  auiho- 
"  rity  and  power."  Not  that  Chrift  Ihall  ccafe  to 
reign  or  have  a  kingdom  after  this ;  for  it  is  fdid,  Luke 
i.  33.  "  He  Ihall  reign  over  the  horde  of  J  icoh  lor 
*'  ever,  and  of  his  kingdom  there  Ihail  he  no  end."  So 
in  Dan.  vii.  14.  "  I'hat  his  dominion^is  an  cverlafling 
*'  dominion,  which  fhall  not  pafs  away,  and  his  king- 
*'  dom  that  which  Ihall  not  be  dellroyed."  lV.it  the 
meaning  is,  that  Chrift  ihall  deliver  up  that  kingdom 
or  dominion  which  he  has  o\er  the  world,  as  the  Fa- 
ther's delegate  or  vicegerent,  which  the  Father  commit- 
ted to  him,  to  be  managed  in  fublerviency  to  this  great 
defign  of  redemption.  The  end  of  this  commillion,  or 
delegation,  which  he  had  from  the  Father,  feems  to  be 
to  fubferve  this  particular  defign  of  redemption  ;  and 
therefore,  when  that  defign  is  fully  accompliihed,  the 
commiffion  will  ceale,  and  Chrift  will  deliver  it  up  to 
the  Father,  from  whom  he  received  it. 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  THE  WHOLE. 

I  PROCEED  now  to  enter  upon  (orm  improvement 
of  the  whole  that  has  been  faid  from  this  doMrme. 
1.  Hence  we  may  learn  how  great  a  work  this  work 
of  redemption  is.  We  have  now  had  it  in  a  very  im- 
perfeft  manner  fet  forth  before  us,  in  the  whole  i)ro- 
grel's  of  it,  from  its  firft  beginning  after  the  fall,  to  the 
end  of  the  world,  when  it  is  finilhed.  We  have  feeii 
how  God  has  carried  on  this  building  from  the  firft: 
foundation  of  it,  by  a  long  fucccftion  of  wonderful 
works,  advancing  it  higher  and  higher  from  one  age  to 
another,  till  the  top-ftone  is  laid  at  the  end  of  the 
world.  And  now  let  us  confider  how  great  a  work  this 
is.  Do  men,  when  thc)-  behold  fome  great  palaces  or 
churches,  fometinies  admire  their  magnificence,  and  are 
almoft  aftonilhed  to  confider  how  great  a  piece  of  work 
it  was  to  build  fuch  an  houfe  ?  Then  how  well  may 
we  admire  the  grcatnefs  of  this  building  of  God,  whicli 
he  huilds  up  age  after  age,  by  a  feries  of  fuch  great 
things  which  he^brings  to  pafs  ?  There  arc  three  things 
that' have  been  exhibited  to  us  in  what  has  been  faid, 
Z  z  which. 


g§6  A  History  of  impr, 

which  do  efpecially  fliow  the  greatnefs  of  the  work  of 
fedemption. 

1.  The  greatnefs  of  thofe  particular  events,  and  dif- 
penfations  of  providence,  by  which  it  is  accompHflied. 
How  great  are  thofe  things  which  God  has  done,  which 
are  but  fo  many  parts  of  this  great  work !  What  great 
things  were  done  in  the  world  to  prepare  the  way  for 
Chrift's  coming  to  purchafe,  and  what  great  things  were 
done  in  the  purchafe  of  redemption  !  What  a  wonder- 
ful thing  was  that  which  wasaccomplifiiedtoput  Chrifl 
in  an  immediate  capacity  for  this  purchafe,  viz.  his  in- 
carnation, that  God  fhould  become  man  !  And  what 
great  tliings  were  done  in  that  purchafe,  that  a  perforr 
\\-ho  is  the  eternal  Jehovah,  fhould  live  upon  earth  for 
four  or  five  and  thirty  years  together,  in  a  mean,  defpi- 
fed  condition,  and  that  he  fliould  fpend  his  life  in  fucli 
labours  and  fufferings,  and  that  at  lafl  he  fliould  die  up- 
on the  crofs !  And  what  great  things  have  been  done 
to  accoraplifli  the  fuccefs  of  Chrifl's  redemption  !  What 
great  things  to  put  him  into  a  capacity  to  accomplifh 
this  fuccefs  I  For  this  purpofe  he  rofe  from  the  dead, 
and  afcended  up  into  Heaven,  and  all  things  were  made 
fubjeft  to  hira.  How  many  miracles  have  been  wrought, 
what  mighty  revolutions  have  been  brought  to  pafs  in 
the  world  already,  aivd  how  much  greater  fhall  be 
brought  to  pafs,  in  order  to  it ! 

2.  The  number  of  thofe  great  events  by  which  God 
earries  on  this  work,  fhows  the  greatnefs  of  the  workw; 
Tliofe  mighty  revolutions  are  lo  many  as  to  fill  up  ma- 
ny ages.  The  particular  wonderful  events  by  which  the 
Tvork  of  creation  was  carried  on  filled  up  fix  days :  but 
tbe  great  difpenfations  by  which  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion is  carried  on,  are  fo  many  that  they  fill  up  fix  or 
levcn  thoufand  years  at   leafl,  as  we  have    reafon   to 

crmclude    from    the   word    of   God.-^ There    v/ere 

g'-eat  things  wrought  in  this  affair  before  the  flood, 
and  in  the  flood  the  world  was  once  deflroyed  by  water, 
and  God's  church  was  fo  wonderfully  preferved  from 
the  flood  in  order  to  carry  on  this  work.  And  after 
the  flood,  what  great  things  did  God  work  relating  to 
the  re-fettling  of  the  world,  to  the  building  of  Babel, 
the  difperfing  of  the  nations,  the  fhortcningof  the  day^ 
pf  man's  hfe,  the  calling  of  Abraham,  the  deftruftion 


fmpr,       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       38; 

pf  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  and  that  long  fciics  of  won- 
(dertul  providences  relating  to  Abraham,  H'aac,  i;nd  Ja- 
cob, and  Jofcph,  and  thole  wonders  in  Kgyj)t,  anrl  at 
die  Red  fea,  and  in  the  wildernefs,  and  in  Canaan  in 
Jofhua's  time,  and  by  a  long  fuccellion  of  vvondeif'ul 
providences  from  age  to  age  towards  the  nation  of  t}\q 
Jews  ! 

What  great  things  were  wronght  by  God,  in  fo  often 
overturning  the  world  before  Chrifl  came,  to  make  way 
for  his  coming!  What  great  things  were  done  alfo  in 
Chrifl's  time,  and  then  after  that  in  overturning  Satan's 
kingdom  in  the  Heathen  empire,  and  in  fo  prefers  ing 
his  church  in  the  dark  times  of  Popery,  and  in  bringing 
about  the  Reformation  !  How  many  great  and  won-, 
derful  things  will  beefl'cfted  in  accomplilhing  the  glori- 
ous times  of  the  church,  and  at  Chrih's  lall;  coming  on 
the  day  of  judgment,  in  the  deftruRion  of  the  world, 
and  in  carrying  the  whale  church  into  Heaven. 

3.  The  glorious  ifTue  of  this  whole  affair,  in  the  per- 
feft  and  eternal  deflru6tion  of  the  wicl.ed,  and  in  the 
confummate  glory  of  the  righteous.  Arid  now  let  us 
once  more  take  a.  view  of  this  building,  now  all  is  fi- 
jiiil-ied  and  the  top-ftone  laid.  It  appeared  in  a  glorious 
height  in  the  apoftles  time,  and  much  more  gloiious  in 
the  time  of  Conftantine,  and  will  appear  much  more 
glorious  ftill  after  the  fall  of  Anti chrifl  ;  but  at  the 
confummation  of  all  things,  it  appears  in  an  immenfely 
more  glorious  height  than  ever  before.  No\^'  it  appears 
in  its  greateft  magnificence,  as  a  complete  lofty  ilruc- 
ture,  whofe  top  reaches  to  the  Heaven  of  Heavens;  a 
building  worthy  of  the  great  God,  the  King  of  kings. 

And  from  what  has  been  faid,  one  may  argue,  that 
the  work  of  redemption  is  the  greateft  of  all  God's, 
v/orks  of  which  we  have  any  notice,  and  it  is  the  end 
of  all  his  other  works.  It  appears  plainly  from  what 
has  been  faid,  that  this  work  is  the  principal  of  all 
God's  w^orks  of  providence,  and  that  all  other  works 
of  providence  are  reducible  hither;  tlicy  are  all  fiibor- 
dinate  to  the  great  affair  of  redemption.  We  fee  that 
a]l  the  revolutions  in  the  world  are  to  fubferve  this, 
grand  defign;  fo  that  the  work  of  rx-dcmpiion  is,  as  it 
were,  t'le  Yum  of  God's  v/orks  of  providence. 

This  jQiows  us  how    much  greater   the  work  of  re-v 
Z  z  a.        '  4cmptipii, 


388  A  HISTORY   OF  Impr. 

demption  is,  than  the  work  of  creation  :  for  I  have  fe- 
veral  times  obferved,  that  the  work  of  providence  is 
greater  than  the  work  of  creation,  becaufe  it  is  the  end 
of  it ;  as  the  ufe  of  an  houfe  is  the  end  of  the  building 
of  the  houfe.  But  the  work  of  redemption,  as  I  have 
juft  faid,  is  the  fum  of  all  God's  works  of  providence; 
all  are  fubordinateto  it ;  fo  the  work  of  the  new  crea- 
tion is  more  excellent  than  the  old.  So  it  ever  is,  that 
when  one  thing  is  removed  by  God  to  make  way  for 
another,  the  new  one  excels  the  old.  Thus  the  temple: 
excelled  the  tabernacle  ;  the  new  covenant  the  old;  the 
new  difpenfation  of  the  gofpcl  the  difpenfation  of 
Mofes  ;  the  throne  of  David  ;  the  throne  of  Saul ;  the 
priefthood  of  Chrilf  ;  the  prieflhood  of  Aaron  ;  the 
new  Jerufalem  the  old ;  and  fo  the  new  creation  far 
excels  the  old. 

God  has  ufed  the  creation  which  he  has  made,  for 
ro  other  purpofe  but  to  fubferve  the  defigns  of  this 
affair.  To  anfwer  this  end,  he  hath  created  and  difpo- 
•ied  of  mankind,  to  this  the  angels,  to  this  the  earth,  to 
this  the  higheft  Heavens.  God  created  the  world  to 
provide  a  fpoufe  and  a  kingdom  for  his  Son :  and  the 
fetting  up  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  and  the  fpiritual 
marriage  of  the  fpoufe  to  him,  is  what  the  whole  crea- 
tion labours  and  travails  in  pain  to  bring  to  pafs.  This 
v/ork  of  redemption  is  fo  much  the  greateft  of  all  the 
works  of  God,  that  all  other  \vorks  are  to  be  looked 
upon  either  as  parts  of  it,  or  appendages  to  it,  or  are 
fome  way  reducible  to  it;  and  fo  all  the  decrees  of  God 
do  fome  way  or  other  belong  to  that  eternal  covenant 
of  redemption  which  was  between  the  Father  and  the 
Son  before  the  foundation  of  the  world.  Every  de- 
cree of  God  is  fome  way  or  other  reducible  to  that  co- 
venant. 

And  feeing  this  work  of  redemption  is  fo  great  a 
work,  hence  we  need  not  wonder  that  the  angels  defire 
to  look  into  it.  And  we  need  not  wonder  that  fo  much 
is  made  of  it  in  fcripture,  and  that  it  is  fo  much  infill- 
ed on  in  the  hiltorics,  and  prophecies,  and  fongs  of  the 
Bible  ;  for  the  work  of  redemption  is  the  great  fubjeft 
of  the  whole,  of  its  doctrines,  its  promifes,  its  types, 
iiA  fftiigs,  its  hiOories,  and  its  prophecies. 

TL  Hence  we  may  learn  how  Crod  is  the  Alpha  and 

Omega, 


Impr.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       389 

Omega,  the  beginning  and  ending  of  all  iliings.  Such 
are  the  characters  and  titles  we  find  often  alcril)cd  to 
God  in  fcripturc,  in  thofe  places  where  the  fcripturc 
fpeaks  of  the  courfc  of  things  and  fcii^s  of  events  in 
providence:  If.  xli.  4.  "  Who  hath  wrought  and  done 
*'  it,  calhng  the  generations  fiom  the  beginning?  I 
"  the  Lord  the  firlf,  and  with  the  lafl  I  am  he."  And 
particularly  does  the  fcripturc  afcribe  fuch  titles  to  God, 
where  it  fpeaks  of  the  providence  of  God,  as  it  relates 
to,  and  is  fummcd  up  in  the  great  work  of  redemption; 
as  If.  xliv.  6.  7.  and  xlviii.  12.  with  the  context,  begin- 
ning with  the  9th  verfe.'  So  God  eminently  ap})earsas 
the  firfl  and  the  lait,  by  confidering  the  whole  fcheme 
of  divine  providence  as  we  have  confidcred  it,  viz.  as 
all  reducible  to  that  one  great  work  of  redemption. 

And  therefore,  when  Chrift  reveals  the  future  great 
evenis  of  providence  relating  to  his  church  and  people, 
and  this  affair  of  redemption,  to  the  end  of  the  world, 
to  his  difciple  John,  he  often  reveals  himfelf  under  this 
charaffer.  So  Rev.  i.  8.  "  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega, 
"  the  beginning  and  the  ending,  faith  the  Lord,  which 
^*  is,  and  which  was,  and  which  is  to  come,  the  AI- 
*'  mighty."  So  again,  verf.  10.  11.  "  I  heard  behind 
*'  me  a  great  voice  as  of  a  trumpet,  faying,  I  am 
*'  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  firff  and  the  lalh"  Alpha 
and  Omega  are  the  names  of  the  firft  and  lafl  letters  of 
the  Greek  alphabet,  as  A  and  Z  are  of  ours  :  and 
therefore  it  hgnifies  the  fame  as  his  being  the  firfl  and 
the  laif ,  and  the  beginning  and  the  ending. 

Thus  God  is  called  in  the  beginning  of  this  book  oi 
Revelation,  before  the  courfeof  the  prophecy  begins; 
and  fo  again  he  is  called  at  the  end  of  it,  after  the 
courfe  of  events  is  gone  through,  and  the  final  iffue  of 
things  is  feen :  as  Rev.  xxi.  6.  "  And  he  faid  unto 
*'  me.  It  is  done.  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  thebcgin- 
*'  ning  and  the  end."  And  fo  chapxxii.  12.  13.  "And 
"  behold,  I  come  quickly;  and  my  reward  is  with  me, 
*'  to  give  every  man  according  as  his  work  (liall  be.  I 
"  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end, 
*•  the  firft  and  the  lafl." 

We  have  feen  how  this  is  true  in  the  courfc  of  what 
1  have  laid  before  you  upon  this  fuhjeH.  We  have 
feen  how  thines  were  from  God  in  the  beginning  ;  Q|i 

what 


pff  A  HISTORY   OF  Impy, 

what  defign  Gcd  began  the  couiTe  of  his  providence  ir^ 
the  beginning  of  the  generations  of  men  upon  the 
parth ;  and  we  have  feen  how  it  is  God  that  has  all 
along  carried  things  on  agreeable  to  the  fame  defigns 
withont  ever  failing ;  and  how  at  laft  the  conclufion 
and  final  iflue  of  things  are  to  God ;  and  fo  we  have 
feen  how  all  things  are  of  him,  and  through  him,  and 
to  him;  and  therefore  may  well  now  cry  out  with  the 
apoflle,  Rom.  xi.  33.  *'  O  the  depth  of  the  riches  both 
*'  of  the  wifdom  and  knowledge  of  God !  how  un« 
*'  fearchable  are  his  judgments,  and  his  ways  paft  find, 
^'  ingout!"  and  verf.  36.  "  For  of  him,  and  through 
•*  him,  and  to  him,  are  aU  things  :  to  whom  be  glory 
**  for  ever.     Amen." 

We  have  feen  how  other  things  came  to  an  end  one 
after  another ;  how  ftates,  and  kingdoms,  and  empires, 
one  after  anothei-,  fell  and  came  to  nothing,  even  the 
greateft  and  firongeft  of  them  ;  we  have  feen  how  the 
world  has  been  often  overturned,  and  will  be  more  re- 
markably overturned  than  ever  it  has  been  yet ;  we 
have  feen  how  the  world  comes  to  an  end,  how  it  was. 
iirft  dellroyed  by  water,  and  how  at  laft  it  fliall  be  ut- 
terly deilroyed  by  fire  :  but  yet  God  remains  the  fame 
through  all  ages.  He  was  before  the  beginning  of  this 
courfe  of  things,  and  he  will  be  after  the  end  of  them  ; 

agreeable  to  Pfal.  cii.  25.  26. Thus  God  is  he  that 

is,  and  that  was,  and  that  is  to  come. 

We  have  feen,  in  a  varietv  of  inftances,  how  all 
other  gods  perifli ;  we  have  feen  how  the  ancient 
gods  of  the  Heatiien  in  the  nations  about  Canaan, 
and  throughout  the  Roman  empire,  are  all  deftroyed, 
and  their  worfriLp  long  fince  overthrown  ;  we  have 
heard  hqw  Antichrifl,  who  has  called  himfelf  a  god  on 
earth,  and  how  Mahomet,  who  claims  religious  honors, 
and  how  all  the  gods  of  the  Heathen  through  the  world, 
will  come  to  an  end ;  and  how  Satan,  the  great  dragon, 
that  old  ferpent,  who  has  fet  up  himfelf  as  god  of  this 
world,  will  be  calf  into  the  lake  of  fire,  there  to  fuffer 
his  complcat  puniflnnent :  but  Jehovah  remains,  and 
his  kingdom  is  an  evcrlafting  kingdom,  and  of  his  do- 
}ninion  there  is  no  end.  We  have  feen  ^vhat  mighty 
changes  there  have  been  in  the^vorld;  but  God  is  un- 
changeable, 


Tmpr.       til E  Wo r K  o  f  REDEMPTIONS       39  i 

cliangca'ole,  "  the  fame  yeflcrtlay,  to  day,  and  for  c- 
"  ever." 

We  began  at  the  head  of  the  (Ircamof  divine  provi- 
dence, and  have  followed  and  traced  it  through  its  va- 
rious windings  and  turnings,  till  we  are  come  to  the 
end  of  it,  and  we  fee  where  it  iilues.  As  it  began  in 
God,  foit  ends  in  God.    God  is  the  infinite  ocean  into 

which  it  empties  ilfelf. Providence  is  like  a  mighty 

wheel,  whofe  circumference  is  fo  high  that  it  is  dread- 
ful, with  the  glory  of  the  God  of  llrael  above  upon  it; 
as  it  is  reprefcnted  in  Ezekicl's  vifion.  We  have  feen 
the  revolution  of  this  wheel,  and  how  as  it  was  from 
God,  fo  its  return  has  been  to  God  again.  All  the  e- 
vents  of  divine  providence  are  like  the  links  of  a  chain; 
the  firft  link  is  from  God,  and  the  laft  is  to  him. 

III.  We  may  fee  by  what  has  been  faid,  how  Chriil 
in  all  things  has  the  pre-eminence.  For  this  great  work, 
of  redemption  is  all  his  work  :  he  is  the  great  Redeem- 
er, and  therefore  the  work  of  redemption  being  as  it 
were  the  fum  of  God's  works  of  providence,  this  fhows 
the  glory  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  as  being  above  all 
and  through  all,  and  in  all.  That  God  intemled  the 
■world  for  his  Son's  ufe  in  the  affair  of  redemption,  is 
one  reafon  that  is  to  be  given  why  he  created  the  world 
by  him,  which  feems  to  be  intimated  by  the  apolHe  in 
Eph.  iii.  9 — 12.  What  has  been  faid,  fhows  how  all 
the  purpofes  of  God  are  purpofed  in  Chrift,  and  ho\Nr 
he  is  before  all,  and  above  all,  and  all  things  confill  by 
him  and  are  governed  by  him,  and  are  for  liim,  Colof. 
i.  15.  16.  17.  18.  We  fee  by  what  has  been  faid,  how 
God  makes  him  his  firft-born,  higher  than  the  kings  of 
the  earth,  and  fets  his  throne  above  their  thrones ;  how- 
God  has  always  upheld  his  kingdom,  when  the  king- 
dom of  others  have  come  to  an  end ;  how  that  appear* 
at  laft  above  all,  however  greatly  oppoled  for  fo  many 
ages ;  how  finally  all  other  kingdoms  fell,  and  his  king- 
dom is  the  laft  kingdom,  and  is  a  kingdom  that  nr/er 
gives  place  to  any  other. 

We  fee,  that  whatever  changes  there  are,  and  liow- 
ever  highly  Chrift's  enemies  exalt  themlrlvcs,  that  yet 
fmallv  all  his  enemies  become  his  footllool,  and  he 
reigns  in  uncontrouled  power  and  inimcnre  g'ory  :  in 
the  end  his  people  arc  allpcrfccUy  favcd^nd  madehap- 


392  A   H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Impr. 

py,  and  his  enemies  all  become  his  footftool. And 

thus  God  gives  the  world  to  his  Son  for  his  inheri- 
tance. 

IV.  Hence  we  may  fee  what  a  confiflent  thing  divine 
providence  is.  The  conlidcration  of  what  has  been 
faid,  may  greatly  ferve  to  Ihow  us  the  confiHency,  or- 
der, and  beauty,  of  God's  works  of  providence.  If  we 
behold  the  events  of  providence  in  any  other  view  than 
that  in  which  it  has  been  fet  before  us,  it  will  all  look 
like  confufion,  like  a  number  ofjumbled  events  coming 
topafs  without  any  order  or  meihod,  like  the  tolling  of 
the  waves  of  the  fea ;  things  will  look  as  though  one 
confufed  revolution  came  to  pafs  after  another,  merely 
by  blind  chance,  without  any  regular  or  certain  end. 

But  if  we  confider  the  events  oi  providence  in  the 
light  in  which  they  have  been  fet  before  us  under  this 
doftrine,  in  which  the  fcriptures  fet  them  before  us, 
they  appear  far  from  being  jumbled  and  confufed,  an 
orderly  feries  of  events,  all  wifely  oide.ed  and  direfted 
irl  excellent  harmony  and  confluence,  tending  all  to  one 
end.  The  wheels  of  providence  are  not  turned  round 
by  blind  chance,  but  they  are  full  of  eyes  round  about, 
as  Ezekiel  reprefents,  and  they  are  guided  by  the  Spirit 
of  God  :  where  the  Spirit  goes,  they  go  :  and  all  God's 
works  of  providence  through  all  ages  meet  in  one  at 
laft,  asfo  many  lines  meeting  in  one  centre. 

It  is  with  God's  work  of  providence,  as  it  is  with  his 
work  of  creation  ;  it  is  but  one  work.  The  events  of 
providence  are  not  fo  many  diftinct,  independent  works 
of  providence,  but  they  are  rather  fo  many  different 
parts  of  one  work  of  providence :  it  is  all  one  work, 
one  regular  fcheme.  God's  works  of  providence  are 
not  difunited  and  jumbled  without  connexion  or  de- 
pendence, but  are  all  united,  juft  as  the  feveral  parts  of 
one  building :  there  are  many  ftones,  many  pieces  of 
timber,  but  all  are  fo  joined,  and  fitly  formed  together, 
that  they  make  but  one  building :  they  have  all  but 
one  foundation,  and  are  united  at  laft  in  one  top- 
ftone, 

God's  providence  may  not  unfitly  be  compared  to  a 
large  and  long  river,  having  innuiTiCrable  branches,  be- 
ginning in  dlfterent  regions,  and  a  great  diftance  one 
ftom  anoiher,  and  all  conipirincr  to  one  dommon  iffuc* 

After 


Impr.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION. 


393 


After  their  very  diverfe  and  contrary  courfcs  which  they 
held  for  a  while,  yet  they  all  gather  more  and  more  to- 
gether, the  nearer  they  come  to  their  common  end, 
and  all  at  length  difchargc  themfelves  at  one  mouth  in- 
to the  fame  ocean.  The  different  ftreams  of  this  river 
are  apt  to  appear  like  mere  jumble  and  confufion  to  us, 
becaufe  of  the  limitednefs  of  our  fight,  whereby  we 
cannot  fee  from  one  branch  to  another,  and  cannot  fee 
the  whole  at  once,  fo  as  to  fee  how  all  are  united  in 
one.  A  man  who  fees  but  one  or  two  flrcams  at  a 
time,  cannot  tell  what  their  courfe  tends  to.  Their 
courfe  feems  very  crooked,  and  different  flreams  fcem 
to  run  for  a  while  different  and  contrary  ways  :  and  i£ 
we  view  things  at  a  diflance,  there  feem  to  be  innume- 
rable obftacles  and  impediments  in  the  way  to  hinder 
their  ever  uniting,  and  coming  to  the  ocean,  as  rocks 
and  mountains,  and  the  like  ;  but  yet  if  we  trace  them, 
they  all  unite  at  laft,  and  all  come  to  the  fame  ilTue, 
difgorging  themfelves  in  one  into  the  fame  great  ocean. 
Not  one  of  all  the  ftreams  fail  of  coming  hither  at 
laft. 

V.  From  the  whole  that  has  been  faid,  we  may 
ftrongly  argue,  that  the  fcriptures  are  the  word  ot 
God,  becaufe  they  alone  inform  us  what  God  is  about, 
or  what  he  aims  at,  in  thefe  works  which  he  is  doing 
in  the  world.  God  doubtlefs  is  purfuing  fome  defign, 
and  carrying  on  fome  fcheme,  in  the  various  changes 
and  revolutions  which  from  age  to  age  came  to  pafs  in 
the  world.  It  is  moft  reafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  there 
is  fome  certain  great  defignto  which  providence  fubor- 
dinates  all  the  great  fuccelfive  changes  in  the  affairs  of 
the  world  which  God  has  made.  It  is  reafonable  to 
fuppofe,  that  all  revolutions,  from  the  beginning  of 
the  world  to  the  end  of  it,  are  but  the  various  parts  of 
the  fame  fcheme,  all  confpiring  to  bring  to  paf;i  that 
great  event  which  the  great  creator  and  governor  of  the 
world  has  ultimately  in  view ;  and  that  the  fcheme  will 
not  be  finifhed,  nor  the  defign  fully  accompliflied,  and 
the  great  and  ultimate  event  fully  brought  to  pafs,  till 
the  end  of  the  world,  and  the  lall:  revolution  is  brought 
about. 

Now  there  is  nothing  clfe  that  informs  us  what  thifi 
fcheme  and  dcfi<Tn  of  God  in  his  works  is,  but  only  the 
3  A  Holy 


gcf4  A  HISTORY   OF  Impr. 

holy  fcrlptures.  Nothing  cKe  pretends  to  fet  in  vie\^ 
the  whole  feiies  of  God's  works  of  providence  from 
beginning  to  end,  and  to  inform  us  how  all  thisgs  were 
from  God  at  fiill,  and  for  what  end  they  are,  and  how 
they  were  ordered  from  the  beginning,  and  how  they 
will  proceed  to  the  end  of  the  world,  and  what  they 
will  come  to  at  laft,  and  how  then  all  things  fliall  be  ta 
God.  Nothing  elfe  but  the  fcriptures  has  any  pretence 
for  fhowing  any  manner  of  regialar  fcheme  or  drift  in 
thofe  revolutions  which  God  orders  from  age  to  age. 
Nothing  elfe  pretends  to  fhow  what  God  would  bv  the 
things  which  he  has  done,  and  is  doing,  3nd  will  do  ; 
w^hat  he  feeks  and  intends  by  them.  Nothing  elfe  pre- 
tends to  fhow,  with  any  diftinRnefs  or  certainty,  how 
the  world  began  at  firft,  or  to  tell  us  the  original  of 
things.  Nothing  but  the  fcriptures  fets  forth  how  God 
governed  the  world  from  the  beginning  of  the  genera- 
tions of  men  upon  the  earth,  in  an  orderly  hiftory ;  and 
nothing  elfe  fets  before  us  how  he  will  govern  it  to  the 
end,  by  an  orderly  prophecy  of  future  events ;  agree- 
able to  the  challenge  which  God  makes  to  the  gods, 
and  prophets,  and  teachers  of  the  Heathen,  in  If.  xli.  22. 
23.  "  Let  them  bring  them  forth,  and  fhew  us  what  fhall 
*'  happen :  let  them  fhev/  the  former  things  what  they 
"  be,  that  Vv^s  m.ay  eonfider  them,  and  know  the  lattei" 
**  end  of  them  ;  or  declare  us  things  for  to  come.  Shew 
**  the  things  that  are  to  come  hereafter,  that  we  may 
**  know  that  ye  are  gods." 

Reafon  fhows,  that  it  is  fit  and  requifite,  that  the  in- 
telligent and  rational  beings  of  the  world  fhould  know 
fomet'ning  of  God's  fchem.e  and  dp{]gn  in  his  works ;' 
for  they  doubt ;efs  are  the  beings  that  are  principally 
concerned.  The  thing  that  is  God's  great  drfign  in  his 
works,  is  doubt lefs  fomething  concerning  his  reafon- 
able  creatures,  rather  than  brute  beafls  and  lifelefs 
things.  The  revolutions  by  which  God's  great  defign 
is  brought  to  pafs,  are  doubtlefs  revolutions  chiefly 
among  them,  and  which  concern  their  Hate,  and  not 
the  flate  of  things  without  life  or  reafon.  And  There- 
fore furely  it  is  requifite,  that  they  fhould  know  fome- 
thing  of  it ;  efpecially  feeing  that  reafon  teaches,  that 
God  has  j2,iven  his  raticnal  creatures  reafon,  and  a  ca- 
pacity of  feeing  God  in  his  vrorlis ;  for  this  end,  that 

they 


Impr.       Tii  E  Wo R  k  o  i"  REDEMPTION. 


395 


they  may  fee  God's  glory  in  tl.cm,  and  give  him  ilie 
glory  of  them.  But  how  can  they  fee  God's  ^lory  in 
his  w^orks,  if  thjy  do  not  know  what  GchI's  deHgn  in 
them  is,  and  what  he  aims  at  by  what  lie  is  doing  in 
the  world  ? 

And  further,  it  is  fit  that  mankind  fliould  be  in- 
formed fomcthing  of  God's  defign  in  tlic  government 
of  the  world,  becaufe  they  are  made  caj)able of  a6ti\ely 
falling  in  with  that  defign,  and  promoting  of  it,  and 
afting  herein  as  his  friends  and  fubjecls;  it  is  there- 
fore reafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  God  lias  given  mankind 
fome  revelation  to  inform  them  of  this  :  but  there  is 
nothing  elfe  that  does  it  but  tk.e  Bible.  In  the  Bible 
this  is  done.  Hence  we  may  learn  an  account  of  the 
firft  original  of  things,  and  an  orderly  account  of 
the  fcheme  of  God's  works  from  the  lirll  beginning, 
thi-ough  thofe  ages  that  are  be\'ond  the  reach  of  all 
other  hiftories.  Heie  ^ve  are  told  \\-hat  God  aims  at 
in  thewdiole,  what  is  the  great  end,  how  he  has  contri- 
ved the  grand  defign  he  drives  at,  and  the  great  things 
he  would  accomplifh  by  all.  Here  we  have  a  moll  ra- 
tional excellent  account  of  this  matter,  wortliy  of  God, 
and  exceedingly  fhewing  forth  the  glorv  of  his  perfec- 
tions, his  majefly,  his  wifdom,  his  glorious  holincfs, 
and  grace,  and  love,  and  his  exaltation  above  all,  fhow- 
ing  how  he  is  the  firil  and  laft. 

Here  we  are  fliowri  the  connection  of  the  various 
parts  of  the  work  of  providence,  and  how  all  harmoni- 
fes,  and  is  connefted  together  in  a  regular,  beaut ihil, 
^nd  glorious  frame.  In  the  Bible,  we  have  an  account 
of  the  whole  fcheme  of  providence,  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  world  to  the  end  of  it,  either  in  hiflory  or 
prophecy,  and  are  told  what  will  become  of  things  at 
iaft  ;  how  they  will  be  finiihed  off  by  a  g  oat  day  of 
judgment,  and  will  iliue  in  the  fiibdiiing  ot  God's  ene- 
mies, and  in  the  falvation  and  glory  of  his  church,  and 
fctting  up  of  the  everlaAin^  kingdom  of  his  Son. 

How  rational,  worthy,  an.d  excellent  a  revelation  is 
this!  And  how  excellent  a  book  is  the  Bible,  which 
contains  fo  much  beyond  all  other  books  i-n  the  world !' 
And  what  characters  are  here  of  its  being  indeed  a  di- 
vine book  !  A  book  that  the  great  Jehovah  has  given  to- 
3  A  2  xnankind 


396  A  HISTORY   OF  Impr. 

mankind  for  their  inftruftion,  without  which  we  fhould 
be  left  in  miferable  darknefs  and  confufion ! 

VI.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  the  glo- 
rious majefty  and  power  of  God  in   this  affair  of  re- 
demption :  efpecially  is  God  glorious  in  power.     His 
glorious  power  appears  in  upholding  his  church  for  fo 
long  a  time,  and  carrying  on  this  work  ;  upholding  it 
oftentimes  when  it  was  but  as  a  little  fpark  of  fire,  or 
as  fmoking  flax,  in  which  the  fire  was  almoflgone  out, 
and  the  power  of  earth  and  hell  were  combined  to  de- 
if  roy  it.     Yet  God  has  never  fuffered  them  to  quench 
it,  and  finally  will  bring  forth  judgment  unto  viflory. 
Cod  glorifies  his  ftrengtli  in  his  church's  weaknefs;  in- 
caufing  his  people,  who  are  like  a  number  of  little  in- 
fants, finally  to  triumph  over  all  earth  and  hell  ;fo  that 
they  ihall  tread  on  the  lion  and  adder  ;  the  young  lion 
and  dragon  fh all  they  trample  under  foot.     The  glo- 
rious power  of  God  appears  in  conquering  his  many 
and  mighty  enemies  by  that  perfon  who  was  once  an 
infant  in  a  manger,  and  appeared  as  a  poor,  weak,  de- 
fpifed  man.     He  conquers  them,  and  triumphs  over 
them  in  their  own  weapon,  the  crofs. 

The  glorious  majefly  of  God  appears  in  conquering 
all  thofe  mighty  enemies  of  the  church  one  age  after 
another  ;  in  conquering  Satan,  that  proud  and  flrong 
ipirit,  and  all  his  helliih  hofl ;  in  bringing  him  down 
under  foot,  long  after  he  had  vaunted  himfelf  as  god 
of  this  world,  and  when  he  did  his  utmbfl  to  fupport 
liim.felf  and  his  kingdom. 

God's  power  glorioufly  appears  in  conquering  Satan 
when  exalted  in  that  flrongeft  and  miofl  potent  Heatherl 
kingdom  that  ever  he  had,  the  Roman  empire.  Chrifl^ 
our  Michael,  has  overcome  him,  and  the  devil  was  cafl 
out,  and  there  was  found  no  more  place  for  him  in 
Heaven;  but  he  was  cafl  out  unto  the  earth,  and  his 
angels  v/ere  cafl  out  with  him.  Again,  his  power  glo- 
rioufly appears  in  conquering  him  in  that  kingdom 
wherein  his  pride,  and  fubtlety,  and  cruelty,  above  all 
appears,  viz.  the  kingdom  of  Antichrifl.  It  glorioufly 
appears  in  conquering  him  in  that  greatefl  and  flrongefl: 
combination  and  oppofition  of  the  devil  and  his  adhe- 
rents againll  Chi  ill  and  his  church,  jufl  before  the  fall 
of  Antichrifl,  wherein  his  vifible  kingdom  has  a  fatal 

blow 


Impr.      The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       397 

blow  given  it,  on  wbicb  anuniveifal  downfal  of  it  toU 
lows  all  over  the  world. 

The  glorious  power  of  God  appears  in  thus  con(picr- 
ing  the  Devil,  and  bringing  him  under  foot,  time  af- 
ter time,   after  long  time  given  him  to  llrcngthcn  hint- 
felf    to  his  uimoll,  as  he  was  once  overthrown  in  his 
Heathen  Roman  empire,  after  he  had  been  making  him- 
felf  ftrong  in  thofe  parts  of  the  world,  ever  (ince  the 
building  ot  Babel.     It  appears  alfo  in  overthrowing  his 
kingdom  more  fatally  and  univerfally  all  over  the  world, 
after  he  had  again  another  opportunity  given  him  to 
llrengthen  himfelf  to  his  utmoll  for  many  ages,  by  fet- 
ting  up    thofe  two  great   kingdoms  of  Anticlnill   and 
Mahomet,  and  to  elkbliHi  his  inhered  in  the  Heathen 
world.     We  have  feen  how  thefe  kingdoms  of  God's 
enemies,  that,  before  God  appears,  look  itrong  as  tho' 
it  was  impoflible  to  overthrow  them  ;  yet,  time  af- 
ter time,  when  God  appears,  they  fcem  to  melt  away  as 
the    fat  of  lambs  before  the  fire,  and  are  driven  away 
as  the  chaff  before  the  whirlwind,  or  the  fniokc  out  of 
the  chimney. 

Thofe  mighty  kingdon^^  of  Antichrift.and  Mahomet, 
which  have  made  fuch  a  figure  for  fo  many  ages  toge- 
ther, and  have  trampled    the  world   under  foot,  when 
God  comes  to  appear,  will  vanifh  away  like  a  (hadow, 
and  will  as  it  were  difappear  of  themfclves,  and  come 
to  nothing,  as  the  darknefs  in  a  room   does,  w'hcn  the 
light  is  brought  in.     What   are  God's  enemies  in  hi<; 
hands  ?  How  is  their  greateft  firength  weaknefs  when 
he  rifes  up!    and  how  weak  will  they  all  appear  toge- 
ther  at  the  day  of  judgment!    Thus  we  may   apply 
thofe  words  in  the  fong  of  Mofes,  Exod.  xv.  6.  "  Thy 
**  right  hand,  O  Lord,  is  become  glorious  in  power  : 
**  thy    right   hand,    O    Lord,  hath   dalhed    in   pieces 
*'  the  enemy."     And  how  gieat    doth   the  ma  jelly  of 
God    appear  m  overturning  the  world  from  time   to 
time,  to  accomplilh  his  defigns,  and  at  laft  in  caufing 
the  earth  and  Heavens  to  flee  away,  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  glory  of  his  kingdoin. 
•   VII.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  mav  fee  the  rjo- 
rious  wifdom  of  God.     It  {hows  the  wifdom  of  Go  I 
in  creating  the  world,  in  that  he  has  created  it  for  iucii 
an  excellent  ufe,  to  accomplilh  in  it  fo  glorious  a  work. 

And 


39^  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Impr, 

And  it  fhows  the  wifdom  of  divine  providence,  that  he 
brings  fuch  great  good  out  of  fuch  great  evil,  in  mak- 
ing tlie  fall  and  ruin  of  mankind,  which  in  itfelf  is  fo 
forrowful  and  deplorable,  an  occ^fion  of  accomplifhing 
fuch  a  glorious  work  as  this  work  of  redemption,  and 
of  erecting  fuch  a  glorious  building,  whofe  top  Ihould 
reach  unto  Heaven,  and  of  bringing  his  ele6l  to  a  Hate 
of  fuch  unfpeakable  happinefs.  And  how  glorious 
doth  the  wifdom  of  God  appear  in  that  long  courfe  and 
feries  of  great  changes  in  the  world,  in  bringing  fuch 
prder  out  of  confufion,  in  fo  fruftrating  the  Devil,  and 
fo  wonderfully  turning  all  his  moft  fubtle  machinations 
to  his  own  glory  and  the  glory  of  his  Son  Jefus  Chrift, 
and  in  caufing  the  greateft  works  of  Satan,  thofe  in 
■which  he  has  moft  glorified  himfelf,  to  be  wholly  turn- 
ed into  occafions  of  fo  much  the  more  glorious  triumph 
of  his  Son  Jefus  Chrift !  And  how  wonderful  is  the 
wifdom  of  God,  in  bringing  all  fuch  manifold  and  va- 
rious changes  and  overturnings  in  the  world  to  fuch  a 
glorious  period  at  l^ft,  and  in  fo  directing  all  the  wheels 
of  providence  by  his  fkilful  hand,  that  every  one  of 
them  confpires,  as  the  manifold  wheels  of  a  moft  cu- 
rious machine,  at  laft  to  ftrike  out  fuch  an  excellent 
ilfue,  fuch  a  manifeftation  of  the  divine  glory,  fuch 
happinefs  to  his  people,  and  fuch  a  glorious  and  ever-^ 
iafting  kingdom  to  his  Son  ! 

VIII.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  the  fta- 
bility  of  God's  mercy  and  faithfulnefs  to  his  people ; 
how  he  never  forfakes  his  inheritance,  and  remembers 
his  covenant  to  them  through  all  generations.  Now 
we  may  fee  what  reafon  there  was  for  the  words  of  the 
text,  *'  The  moth  fhall  eat  them  up  like  a  garment,  and 
*■'  the  worm  fliall  eat  them  like  wool ;  but  my  righte- 
**  oufnefs  Hiall  endure  for  ever  and  ever,  and  my  fal- 
•'  vation  from  generation  to  generation."  And  now 
v»'e  may  fee  abundant  reafon  for  that  name  of  God 
which  he  reveals  to  Mofes,  Exod.  iii.  14.  "And  God 
**  faid  unto  Mofes,  lam  that  I  cwi :"  i.e.  I  am  the 
fame  that  I  was  when  I  entered  into  covenant  with  A- 
braham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  and  ever  fliall  be  the  fame  : 
I  fliall  keep  covenant  for  ever  :  I  am  felf-fufficient,  all- 
fuhicient,  and  immutable. 

And  now  we  may  fee  the  truth  of  that,  Pfal.  xxxvi. 
5.  6.  "  Thy  mercy  O  Lord  is  in  the  Heavens ;  and  thy 

"  faithfulnefs 


Jmpr.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.      39^ 

•'  faithfulnefs  reacheth  unto  the  clourls.  Thy  ri;;htc- 
*'  oufnefs  is  Hkc  the  great  mountains  ;  thy  jiulginem'* 
"  arc  a  great  deep."  And  if  \vc  conlidcr  what  has 
been  faid  we  need  not  wonder  that  the  Plalmill,  in  the 
136th  Pfahn,  fo  often  repeats  this,  For  his  mercy  endu^ 
retk  for  ever;  as  if  he  were  in  an  ecftafy  at  the  coTifi^ 
deration  of  the  perpetuity  of  God's  mercy  to  his  church, 
and  delighted  to  think  of  it,  and  knew  not  liow  hut 
continually  to  exprefs  it.  Let  us  with  like  pleafurc  and 
joy  celebrate  the  everlafling  duration  of  God's  mercy 
and  faithfulnefs  to  his  church  and  people,  and  let  us  be 
comforted  by  it  under  the  prefent  dark  circumftanccs 
of  the  church  of  God,  and  all  the  uproar  and  confufi^ 
ons  that  are  in  the  world,  and  all  the  threatninj^^s  of 
the  church's  enemies.  And  let  us  take  encouragement 
earneflly  to  pray  for  thofe  glorious  things  which  God 
has  promifed  to  accomplilh  for  his  church. 

IX.  Hence  we  may  learn  how  happy  a  fociety  tlie 
church  of  Chrifl  is.  For  all  this  great  work  is  for  tlicm, 
Chrift  undertook  it  for  their  fakes,  and  for  their  fakes 
he  carries  it  on,  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  curl  of  the 
world ;  it  is  becaufe  he  has  loved  them  Wi\\\  an  ever- 
lafting  love.  For  their  fakes  he  overturns  ftates  and 
kingdoms.  For  their  fakes  he  (hakes  heaven  and  earth. 
He  gives  men  for  them,  and  people  for  dieir  life. — ■ 
Since  they  have  been  precious  in  God's  fight,  they  have 
been  honorable ;  ar^d  therefore  he  firft  gives  the  blood 
of  his  own  fon  to  them,  and  then,  for  their  fakes,  gives 
the  blood  of  all  their  enemies,  many  thoufynds  and 
millions,  all  nations  that  iland  in  their  wa}-,  as  a  facri- 
fice  to  their  good. 

For  their  lakes  he  made  the  world,  and  for  their 
fakes  he  will  dellroy  it ;  for  their  fakes  he  built  Heaven 
and  for  their  fakes  he  makes  his  angels  mmiflrmg  Ipuits. 
Therefore  the  apoHIc  lays,  as  he  docs,  1  Cor.  iii.  21. 
&c.  "All  things  arc  yours:  whether  Paul,  or  Apol- 
"  Ics,  or  Cephas,  or  the  world,  or  life,  or  death,  or 
*'  things  preient,  or  things  to  come;  all  are  yours." 
How  blcITed  is  this  people  who  are  redeemed  from  a- 
mong  men,  and  arc  the  firll  fruits  unto  God,  and  to 
the  Lamb  ;  who  have  God  in  all  ages  for  their  protec- 
tion and  help !  Y)q.\\\.  xxxiii.  29.  '*  Happy  art  tliou,  C> 
"  Ifrael :  who  is  like  tuuo  thee,  O  u' onle  Oved  l)y  the 


400  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  OF  Impr. 

"  Lord,  the  fliield  of  thy  help,  and  who  is  the  fword 
•'  of  thy  excellency  !  and  thine  enemies  fhallbe  found 
"  liars  unto  thee,  and  thou  flialt  tread  upon  their  high 
"  places." 

Let  who  will  prevail  now,  let  the  enemies  of  the 
church  exalt  themfelves  as  much  as  they  will,  thefe  are 
the  people  that  fliall  finally  prevail.  The  lail  kingdom 
{hall  finally  be  theirs ;  the  kingdom  fliall  finally  be  gi- 
ven into  their  hands,  and  fhall  not  be  left  to  other  peo^ 
pie.  Wc  have  feen  what  a  blefl'ed  iffue  things  fhall  fie 
nally  be  brought  to  as  to  them,  and  what  glory  they 
fhall  arrive  at,  and  remain  in  pofTefTion  of,  for  ever 
and  ever,  after  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world  are  come 
to  an  end,  and  the  earth  is  removed,  and  mountains 
are  carried  into  the  depth  of  the  fea,  or  where  the  fea 
was,  and  this  lower  earth  fhall  all  be  dilTolved.  O  happy 
people,  and  blefTed  fociety !  Well  may  they  fpend  an 
eternity  in  praifes  and  hallelujahs  to  him  who  hath  lov- 
ed them  from    eternity,  and  will    love  them  to  eterni- 

X.  And,  laflly,  hence  all  wicked  men,  all  that  are 
in  a  Chrifllefs  condition  may  fee  their  exceeding  mi- 
fery.  You  that  are  fuch,  whoever  you  are,  you  are 
thofe  who  fhall  have  no  part  or  lot  in  this  matter.  You 
are  never  the  better  for  any  of  thofe  things  of  which 
you  have  heard  :  yea,  your  guilt  is  but  fb  much  the 
greater,  and  the  mifery  you  are  expofed  to  fo  much  the 
more  dreadful.  You  are  fome  of  that  fort,  againfl 
whom  God,  in  the  progrefs  of  the  work,  exercifes  fo 
much  manifefl  wrath ;  fome  of  thofe  enemies  who  are 
liable  to  be  made  Chrifl's  footflool,  and  to  be  ruled 
with  a  rod  of  iron,  and  to  be  dafhed  in  pieces.  You 
are  fome  of  the  feed  of  the  ferpent,  to  bruife  the  head 
of  which  is  one  great  defign  of  all  this  work.  What- 
ever glorious  things  God  accompliflies  for  his  church, 
if  you  continue  in  the  flatc  you  are  now  in,  they  will 
not  be  glorious  to  )'ou.  The  moft  glorious  times  of 
the  church  are  always  the  mofl  difmal  times  to  the 
•wicked  and  impenitent.    This  we  are  taught  in  If.  Ixvi. 

14. And  fo  we  find,  where-ever  glorious  things  are 

foretold  concerning  the  church,  there  terrible  things 
are  foretold  concerning  the  wicked,  its  enemies.    And 

fo 


Impr.       The  Work  of  REDEMPTION.       401 

fo  it  ever  has  been  in  faft ;  in  all   remarkable  deliver- 
ances wrought  for  the  church,  there  has  been  alfo  re- 
markable execution  of  wrath  on  its  enemies.  So  it  was 
when  God  delivered  the  children  of  Ifracl  out  of  K- 
gypt ;  at  the  fame  time  he  remarkably  poured   out  his 
wrath  on  Pharaoh  and  the  Egyptians.      So  when  he 
brought  them  into  Canaan  by  Jolhua,  and  gave  them  ibat 
good  land,  he  remarkably  executed  wrath  upon  the  Ca- 
naanites.  So  when  they  were  delivered  out  of  their  Ba- 
bylonilh  captivity,  fignal  vengeance  was   inflifted  on 
the  Babylonians.  So  when  the  Gentiles  were  called,  and 
the  eletl  of  God   were  faved  by  the  preaching  of  the 
apoftles,  Jerufalem  and  the  perfecuting  Jews  were  de- 
ftroyed  in  a  moft  awful  maimer.     I  might  obfervc  the 
fame  concerning  the  glory  accompliflied  to  the  church 
in  the  days  of  Conftantine,  at  the  overthrow  of  Satan's 
vifible  kingdom  in  the  downfall  of  Antichrifl,  and  at 
the  day  of  judgment.     In  all  thefc  inllances,  and  efpe- 
cially  in  the  lalt,  there  have  been,  or  will  be  exhibited 
moft  awful  tokens  of  the  divine  wrath  againft  the  wick- 
ed.    And  to  this  clafs  of  men  you  belong. 

You  are  indeed  fome  of  that  fort  that  God  will  make 
ufe  of  in  this  affair;  but  it  will  be  for  the  glory  of  his 
juftice  and  not  of  his  mercy.  You  are  fome  of  thofe 
enemies  of  God  who  are  referved  for  the  triumph  of 
Chrift's  glorious  power  in  overcoming  and  punilhing 
them.  You  are  fome  of  that  fort  that  Ihall  be  confum- 
ed  with  this  accurfed  world  after  the  day  of  judgment, 
when  Chrift  and  his  church  fhall  triumphantly  and  glo- 
lioufly  afcend  to  Heaven. 

Therefore  let  all  that  are  in  a  Chriftlefs  condition 
amongft  us  ferioufly  confider  thefe  things,  and  not  be 
like  the  foolifti  people  of  the  old  world,  who  would 
not  take  warning,  when  Noah  told  them,  that  the  Lord 
was  about  to  bring  a  flood  of  waters  upon  the  earth  ; 
or  like  the  people  of  Sodom,  who  would  not  regard, 
when  Lot  told  them.  That  God  would  deftroy  that  city, 
and  would  not  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  fo 
were  confumed  ni  that  terrible  deftruttion. 

And  now  I  nould  conclude  my  whole  difcourfc  on 
this  fubjeft,  in  words  like  thole  in  the  laftof  the  Reve- 
lation :  "Thefe  favinos  arc  faithful  and  triie,  and  blclf- 
'     '3  B  b  ed 


409  A  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  or,  &c.  Impr. 

ed  Is  he  that  kcepeth  thefe  fayings.  Behold,  Chrift  co- 
met h  quickly,  and  his  reward  is  with  him,  to  render  to 
every  man  according  as  his  work  fhall  he.  And  he  ihat 
js  nnjiift,  fhall  be  unjuft  fiill  ;  and  he  that  is  filthy 
Puall  be  filrhy  flilj ;  and  he  that  is  holy,  fhall  be  holy 
Hill.  Blefled  are  ! hey  that  do  his  commandments, 
that  they  m.ay  have  right  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  may 
enter  in  throiJgh  the  gates  into  the  city  :  for  without 
are  dogs,  and  forcerers,  and  whorem>ongers,  and  mur- 
derers, and  idolaters,  and  whofoever  loveth  and  maketh 
a-lie.  He  that  teflifieth  thefe  things,  faith.  Surely  I 
com.e  quickly.     Amen;    even   fo  come  Lord  Jefus.,'' 


N      I      S, 


Ncu)-Ydrk,  Augujl  29,  i78{;. 

THE  Publlfhcr  reiums  his  moft  unfeigned  thanks 
to  the  pubhc,  for  the  generous  encouragement 
they  have  given  towards  the  priming  of  the  late  Mr. 
Edwards  s  Hijlory  of  the  Work  of  Redemption. 

At  the  requeft  of  fome  gentlemen  who  wifh  to  pro^ 
mote  RELIGION,  he  has  iffued  the  following 

PROPOSALS 

For  printing  by  fuhfaiptioii,  in  one  volume,  jartc 
06k vo,  a  neat  A  M  E  r  i c  A  N  Ed  i  r  i  o  N  of  that  vaw 
luable  book,  entitled, 

A    TREATISE 

CONCERNING 

RELIGIOUS    AFFECTIONS, 

In    three    PARTS. 

Part  I.  Concerning  the  nature  of  the  AfTeciions'^ 
and  their  importance  in  Religion. 

Part  II.  Shewing  what  are  no  certain  fjgns  that 
Religious  Affections  are  gracious,  or  that  they  are 
not. 

Part  III.  Shewing  what  are  diflinguiflilng  flgns  of 
truly  gracious  and  holy  Affections. 

By  the  late  Rev.   Jonathan' Edwtzrdss 

Prejideat  of  the  Colicky,  of  Nezu-Jerfey, 
CONDITIONS. 

I.  The  book  will  be  printed  on  a  better  paper  and  with 
the  fame  type  as  the  Hi  (lory  of  Redemption. 

II.  When  five  hundred  fubfcribers  have  given  in  their 
-  names,  the  book  will  be  put  to  the  preis,  and  finilh- 

ed  with  all  poffihle  expedition. 

III.  The  price  of  the  book  neatly  bound  and  lettered 
:  (which  contains  above  400  pages  large  o6hvo)  will 

be  only  Ten  Shillings,  New-York  currency,  to   the 
fubfcribers,  and  to,  non-fubfcribers  Twelve  Shillings. 

IV.  Thofe  who  fubfcribe  for  twelve  books  fhall  re- 
ceive one  gratis ;  and  the  bookfcllers  the  ulual  al- 
lowance. 

V.  A  lift  of  the  fubfcribers  names  will  be  p.intcd  in 
the  beginning  of  the  book. 

VI.  No  money  is  required  until  the  book  is  delivered' 


LIKEWISE, 

PROPOSALS  for  ^rmimghy  fubfcr if tion,  in  tw* 
volumes  large  o6tavo,  a  neat  American  Edi- 
tion of  a  work  which  is  held  in  the  higheft  eftimati- 
on  [{ewcn  large  impreflions  having  been  fold  in  Great- 
Britain  in  thfe  courfe  of  thirty  years)  entitled, 

PISSERTATIONS 

ON      THE 

PROPHECIES, 

Which   have   remarkably   been  fulfilled,  and  at  this 
tiiiie  are  fulfilling  in  the  world. 

By  THOMAS  NEWTON,  D.  D. 

Late  Lord  Bifhop  of  Brijiol. 

CONDITIONS. 

I.  The  work  will  be  printed  on  good  paper  and  type, 
in  a  neat  and  elegant  mannet. 

JI.  When  five  hundred  fubfcribers  have  given  in  their 
names,  the  work  will  be  put  to  the  prefs»  and  finifh- 
ed  with  all  poffible  expedition. 

III.  The  price  of  the  two  volumes,  neatly  bound  and 
lettered  (which  will  contain  about  450  pages  large 
oftavo  in  each  volume)  fhall  be  only  Twenty  Shillings^ 
ISJcw-York  currency,  -to  the  fijbfciibers  (although 
the  London  edition  is  near  double  that  price)  and 
to  non-fubfcribefs  Twenty-four  Shillings, 

IV.  Thofe  who  fubfcribe  for  twelve  fets,  fhall  receive 
one  gratis ;  and  the  bookfellers  the  ufual  allow- 
ance. 

V.  A  lift  of  the  fubfcribers  names  will  be  printed  in 
the  beginning  of  the  fecond  volume. 

VI.  No  money  is  required  until  the  two  volumes  are 
delivered. 

^^  It  is  intreatcd  that  thofe  who  are  willing  to  en- 
courage cither  of  the  above  valuable  v/orks,  will  fend 
their  names,  without  delay,  to  the  publifhcr,  ROBERT 
HODGE,  No.  38,  Maiden-Lane ;  or  to  any  other 
bookfeller  or  Printer  who  will  intcrcll  ihemfelves  in 
favour  of  the  undcrlakiiios. 


■:  \: 


W'*--: 


*Mp>..: 

;■     ^.:   (V 


fy 


Mkh. 


